Low loss topas based porous core single mode photonic crystal fiber for THz communications

In this paper, an extremely low loss hybrid hexagonal porous core and octagonally structured circular cladding photonic crystal fiber (PCF) for low loss terahertz (THz) wave propagation has been designed and proposed.  We have analyzed ultralow effective material loss (EML), high core power fraction and ultra-flattened dispersion in our proposed design. To investigate the transmission characteristics, perfectly matched layer (PML) is used in the outer boundary of the PCF. At an operating frequency of 1 THz, this design exhibits a low effective material loss of 0.045 cm-1 at a high core power fraction of 58.2% with 88% porosity. The proposed PCF shows dispersion variation of 0.225 ps/THz/cm. Also, this designed PCF can operate in single-mode condition successfully. It is anticipated that designed PCF can be employed in applications such as fiber optics communications, sensing and spectroscopy

Topas based high birefringent and low loss single mode hybrid-core porous fiber for broadband application

We present a through numerical analysis of a low loss and highly birefringent hybrid porous core with octagonal cladding structure for terahertz (THz) wave guidance. The proposed photonic crystal fiber (PCF) offers simultaneously low effective material loss (EML) as well as high birefringence in the frequency range of 0.8-1.05 THz with single mode operation. To attain high birefringence we introduce asymmetry in the core using both elliptical and circular air holes (hybrid). The numerical results obtained from the finite element method (FEM) which confirms low EML of 0.044 cm–1 as well as a high birefringence of ~0.043 at 0.73 THz operating frequency. Therefore, the fiber is likely to be useful in different THz polarization maintaining applications

Evaluation of turmeric-mung bean intercrop productivity through competition functions

An intercropping experiment was conducted with varying combinations of turmeric and mung bean to find out the efficacy of productivity and economic return through competition functions. Treatments were evaluated on the basis of several competition functions, such as land equivalent ratio (LER), aggressiveness, competitive ratio (CR), monetary advantage index (MAI) and system productivity index (SPI). Results showed that rhizome yields of turmeric were higher in intercropping system than in mono crop. It indicated that intercropping of mung bean did not affect the rhizome yield of turmeric. However, turmeric (100 %) + 3 row mung bean (100 %) in between turmeric lines intercropping system exhibited maximum yield of both the crops as well as turmeric equivalent yield, LER, competitive indices values, SPI and MAI (Tk. 2,44,734.46 ha-1) compared to the other intercropping combinations and the mono crops. Aggressiveness of intercrop indicated dominance of turmeric over mung bean in all the combinations except turmeric (100 %) + 1 row mung bean (33 %). Competition functions of intercroping suggested beneficial association of turmeric and mung bean crops. The study revealed that mung bean could be introduced as intercrop with turmeric without hampering rhizome yield with higher benefit additionally increasing mung bean production area. © 2018 University of Ljubljana. All rights reserved

Improvement of production and net economic return through intercropping of upland cotton with mungbean

Bangladesh has a glorious historic record in growing superfine quality cotton. The performance of mungbean inter-cropped in upland cotton cultivars was evaluated in the field of Cotton Research, Training and Seed Multiplication Farm, Sadarpur, Dinajpur 2011-2012 to find out the ways of improvement of production and net economic return through intercropping of upland cotton with mungbean. The treatments were; T1– Cotton cv Rupali 1/Mungbean cv BARI Mung-6, T2 -Cotton cv DM 1/Mungbean cv BARI Mung-6, T3 -Cotton cv CB 12/Mungbean cv BARI Mung-6, T4– Cotton cv CB 10-Mungbean cv BARI Mung-6, T5 -Cotton cv Rupali 1 (Sole), T6 -DM 1 (Sole), T7 -CB 12 (Sole), T8 -CB 10 (Sole) and T9 -Sole mungbean. The seed cotton yields did not respond significantly among the treatments of cotton-mungbean intercropping systems and sole cotton as well. The highest grain yield of mungbean (702 kg ha-1) was obtained from the sole mungbean than the other treatments because of the highest mungbean plant density. Mungbean intercropping with cotton produced the highest seed cotton equivalent yield, gross margin and gross return for local varieties as well as hybrid lines. The lowest gross return, gross margin and Benefit cost ratio (BCR) were obtained from the treatment of sole mungbean. Mungbean based intercropping in cotton would be ideal for increasing productivity and profitable benefit returns per unit land area, which ultimately encourage farmers for sustainable cotton cultivation in Bangladesh

Response of Growth and Yield Attributes of Aromatic Rice to Cowdung and Zinc Fertilization

A field experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Research Field, Department of the Agronomy, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, Bangladesh during Aman season (June to December) 2016 to evaluate the growth, yield and yield attributes of aromatic rice (cv. Tulshimala) under the fertilization of cowdung (organic manure) and zinc (micronutrient). The application of different levels of cowdung and zinc fertilizers considerably increased the number of total tillers hill-1, number of productive tillers hill-1, panicle length, test weight (g), grain yield hill-1 (g), straw yield hill-1 (g), grain yield (t ha-1), straw yield (t ha-1), and biological yields over control. However, the treatment combination of CD1Zn2 i.e. 10 t ha-1 cowdung and 12 kg ha-1ZnSO4 along with other recommended doses of inorganic fertilizers produced the highest grain yield (2.79 t ha-1) and straw yield (5.80 t ha-1) over other treatments

The effect of zinc fertilization and cow dung on sterility and quantitative traits of rice

The grain yield of rice is far below from its potential yield due low organic matter and micronutrients in the soil. Application of cow dung and zinc fertilizer increases grain yield and quality. A field experiment was, therefore, conducted to evaluate the effect of zinc fertilization and well decomposed cow dung on the spikelet sterility, yield, zinc concentration in grains and plants of aromatic rice (cv. Tulsimala). In this experiment,two levels of well decomposed cowdung (CD) of 0, 10 tha-1, and fourdoses of zinc fertilization viz. 0, 2.16, 4.32, 6.48 kg ha-1 of zinc were used followingeight treatment combinations. The experiment was laid out in a factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD) with replication thrice. The data revealed that zinc fertilization remarkably increased the grain yield of Tulshimala by reducing the spikelet sterility percentages in both conditions of CD and the efficiency of zinc fertilization was superior in manuring (CD) condition to non-manuring condition. However, zinc fertilization at the rate of 4.32 kg ha-1 of zinc produced the maximum grainyields under manuring and non-manuring conditions. Zinc fertilization increased the concentration of Zn in the rice plants and grains without and with CD. The strong linear relationship between the grain yield and zinc concentration in the rice plants and grains was found with in this study. Zinc fertilization increased grain yield and quality by decreasing sterility percentage under CD. Hence, for increasing productivity towards food security in future generation, integrated use organic and inorganic fertilizers should be used.&nbsp

Effect of NaCl on physiological, biochemical, and ionic parameters of naked oat (Avena nuda L.) line Bayou1

Oat (Avena nuda L.) is a globally important cereal crop grown for its nutritious grains and is considered as moderately salt-tolerant. Studying salinity tolerant mechanisms of oats could assist breeders in increasing oat production and their economic income in salt-affected areas, as the total amount of saline land in the world is still increasing. The present study was carried out to better understand the salt tolerance mechanism of the naked oat line Bayou1. A soil experiment was conducted on 17 days-old Bayou1 seedlings treated with varying concentrations of NaCl for a period of 12 days. Bayou1 plants grew optimally when treated with 50 mM NaCl, demonstrating their salinity tolerance. Reduced water uptake, decreased Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, and guaiacol peroxidase activity, as well as increased Na+ concentration in leaves, all contributed to a reduction in shoot growth. However, the damage to ionic homeostasis caused by increased Na+ concentrations and decreased K+ concentrations in the roots of Bayou1 did not inhibit its root growth, indicating that the main salt-tolerant mechanism in Bayou1 existed in its roots. Further, a hydroponic experiment found that increasing Na+ concentration in root cell sap enhanced root growth, while maintaining the integrity of root cell membranes. The accumulated Na+ may have facilitated the root growth of Bayou1 exposed to NaCl by effectively adjusting cellular osmotic potential, thereby ensuring root cell turgor and expansion

Phytohormones as Growth Regulators During Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Plants

Phytohormones (PHs) play crucial role in regulation of various physiological and biochemical processes that govern plant growth and yield under optimal and stress conditions. The interaction of these PHs is crucial for plant survival under stressful environments as they trigger signaling pathways. Hormonal cross regulation initiate a cascade of reactions which finely tune the physiological processes in plant architecture that help plant to grow under suboptimal growth conditions. Recently, various studies have highlighted the role of PHs such as abscisic acid, salicylic acid, ethylene, and jasmonates in the plant responses toward environmental stresses. The involvement of cytokinins, gibberellins, auxin, and relatively novel PHs such as strigolactones and brassinosteroids in plant growth and development has been documented under normal and stress conditions. The recent identification of the first plant melatonin receptor opened the door to this regulatory molecule being considered a new plant hormone. However, polyamines, which are not considered PHs, have been included in this chapter. Various microbes produce and secrete hormones which helped the plants in nutrient uptake such as N, P, and Fe. Exogenous use of such microbes help plants in correcting nutrient deficiency under abiotic stresses. This chapter focused on the recent developments in the knowledge related to PHs and their involvement in abiotic stresses of anticipation, signaling, cross-talk, and activation of response mechanisms. In view of role of hormones and capability of microbes in producing hormones, we propose the use of hormones and microbes as potential strategy for crop stress management.Fil: EL Sabagh, Ayman. Scientific And Technological Research Council Of Turkey; TurquíaFil: Islam, Mohammad Sohidul. Kafrelsheikh University; EgiptoFil: Hossain, Akbar. Hajee Mohammad Danesh And Technology University; BangladeshFil: Iqbal, Muhammad Aamir. University Of Poonch; PakistánFil: Mubeen, Mohammad. Comsats University Islamabad; PakistánFil: Waleed, Mirza. Comsats University Islamabad; PakistánFil: Reginato, Mariana Andrea. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Agrobiotecnológicas. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Agrobiotecnológicas; ArgentinaFil: Battaglia, Martin. Cornell University; Estados UnidosFil: Ahmed, Sharif. International Rice Research Institute; FilipinasFil: Rehman, Abdul. The Islamia University Of Bahawalpur; PakistánFil: Arif, Muhammad. The University Of Agriculture; PakistánFil: Athar, Habib-Ur-Rehman. Bahauddin Zakariya University; PakistánFil: Ratnasekera, Disna. University Of Ruhuna; Sri LankaFil: Danish, Subhan. Bahauddin Zakariya University; PakistánFil: Raza, Ali. Sichuan Agricultural University; ChinaFil: Rajendran, Karthika. Vellore Institute Of Technology; IndiaFil: Mushtaq, Muntazir. Icar-national Bureau Of Plant Genetic Resources; IndiaFil: Skalicky, Milan. Czech University Of Life Sciences Prague; República ChecaFil: Brestic, Marian. Czech University Of Life Sciences Prague; República ChecaFil: Soufan, Walid. King Saud University; Arabia SauditaFil: Fahad, Shah. University Of Haripur; PakistánFil: Pandey, Saurabh. Guru Nanak Dev University; IndiaFil: Abdelhamid, Magdi T.. National Research Centre Dokki; Egipt

Soybean and Sustainable Agriculture for Food Security

Global food security is under-challenged due to over increasing human population, limited cropland, and risk of climate change. Therefore, an appropriate agricultural policy framework needs to be developed for food security that should be sustainable economically and ecologically. Nitrogen (N) is a crucial element that controls the growth productivity of crop plants. N accounts for around 78 volume per cent of the atmosphere but all crop plants cannot use it directly. Agricultural land is mostly dominated by cereals (e.g. rice, wheat, maize) which have specifically high N demand as compared to food legumes. Soybean exemplifies the most significant and cultivated food legume, presently cultivated worldwide under varying climatic conditions. It plays a significant role in global food security as well as agricultural sustainability due to a high seed protein and oil concentration, and low reliance on N fertilization. Soybean enriches soil health by fixing atmospheric N through biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), the most productive and economical system for N fixation and crop production, associated with more intensive production systems. However, the efficiency of BNF depends on several factors. This study is focused to develop more reliable guidelines for managing BNF by using the potential of natural agro-ecosystems

Consequences and Mitigation Strategies of Heat Stress for Sustainability of Soybean (<em>Glycine max</em> L. Merr.) Production under the Changing Climate

Increasing ambient temperature is a major climatic factor that negatively affects plant growth and development, and causes significant losses in soybean crop yield worldwide. Thus, high temperatures (HT) result in less seed germination, which leads to pathogenic infection, and decreases the economic yield of soybean. In addition, the efficiency of photosynthesis and transpiration of plants are affected by high temperatures, which have negative impact on the physio-biochemical process in the plant system, finally deteriorate the yield and quality of the affected crop. However, plants have several mechanisms of specific cellular detection of HT stress that help in the transduction of signals, producing the activation of transcription factors and genes to counteract the harmful effects caused by the stressful condition. Among the contributors to help the plant in re-establishing cellular homeostasis are the applications of organic stimulants (antioxidants, osmoprotectants, and hormones), which enhance the productivity and quality of soybean against HT stress. In this chapter, we summarized the physiological and biochemical mechanisms of soybean plants at various growth stages under HT. Furthermore, it also depicts the mitigation strategies to overcome the adverse effects of HT on soybean using exogenous applications of bioregulators. These studies intend to increase the understanding of exogenous biochemical compounds that could reduce the adverse effects of HT on the growth, yield, and quality of soybean