Three decades of using of gypsum under sodic water irrigation in coarse textured soils

The aim of this study was to determine the long term use of sodic waters and gypsum on physico-chemical properties of coarse textured loamy sand soil. The study consisted of three natural occurring underground sodic waters and amendment gypsum in various cropping systems. The results demonstrated that sodic water irrigation significantly decreased infiltration rate (1.46 & 1.09 cm hr-1) and soil porosity (35.66 & 33.26 %) and increased soil strength (17.49 & 17.67 kg cm-1), pH (9.52 & 9.66), exchangeable sodium percentage (48.00 & 55.00), sodium adsorption ratio (45.14 & 54.10 (mmol/l)1/2) and calcium carbonate content (2.15 & 2.44 %). The gypsum application significantly improved infiltration rate (2.20 cm hr-1) and soil porosity (38.7 %) and reduced soil strength (16.74 kg cm-1), soil pH (9.35) exchangeable sodium percentage (39.00), sodium adsorption ratio (36.93 (mmol/l)1/2) over a period of thirty years. A significant CaCO3 build up in soil was also observed with gypsum application (3.28 % 4.56 %) as compared to its content at the start of study. Thus, it is concluded that in coarse textured soils of North west India, sodic waters up to RSC 12.0 me l-1 could safely be used crop production in combination with gypsum in loamy sand soil without any adverse effect on the physico-chemical characteristics of soil

Climate Smart agricultural practices improve soil quality through organic carbon enrichment and lower greenhouse gas emissions in farms of bread bowl of India

Acknowledgements The authors are thankful to NEWS India-UK for providing the first author Fellowship during the study. We are also grateful to CCAFS-CIMMYT for allowing us to collect soil samples from climate smart villages of Karnal, Haryana. The help received from Kartar Singh during soil analysis, and Kapil, Rakesh, Rajinder and Anil during field survey and sample collection is gratefully acknowledged. We are grateful to two anonymous reviewers for their insightful comments which significantly improved the quality of the manuscript.Peer reviewedPostprin

Scalable diversification options delivers sustainable and nutritious food in Indo‑Gangetic plains

Indo-Gangetic plains (IGP) of South Asia have supported bulk of human and bovine population in the region since ages, and a spectacular progress has been made in food production. However, malnutrition, diminishing total factor productivity, and natural resource degradation continue to plague this cereal-dominated region, which is also vulnerable to climate change. Addressing these challenges would require a transition towards diversifying cereal rotations with agroecological cropping systems. A study was, therefore, conducted at the experimental farm of ICAR-CSSRI, Karnal on crop diversification and sustainable intensification options using agro-ecological approaches such as Conservation Agriculture (CA) and diversified cropping systems to ensure food and nutritional security while sustaining the natural resources. On 2 years mean basis, CA-based cropping system management scenarios (mean of Sc2–Sc7) using diversified crop rotations; increased the system yield by 15.4%, net return by 28.7%, protein yield by 29.7%, while using 53.0% less irrigation water compared to conventional tillage (CT)-based rice–wheat system (Sc1). Maize-mustard-mungbean on permanent beds (PBs) (Sc4) recorded the highest productivity (+ 40.7%), profitability (+ 60.1%), and saved 81.8% irrigation water compared to Sc1 (11.8 Mg ha−1; 2190 USD ha−1; 2514 mm ha−1). Similarly, Sc5 (maize-wheat-mungbean on PBs) improved productivity (+ 32.2%), profitability (+ 57.4%) and saved irrigation water (75.5%) compared to Sc1. In terms of nutritional value, Sc5 was more balanced than other scenarios, and produced 43.8, 27.5 and 259.8% higher protein, carbohydrate and fat yields, respectively, compared to Sc1 (0.93, 8.55 and 0.14 Mg ha−1). Scenario 5 was able to meet the nutrient demand of 19, 23 and 32 additional persons ha−1 year−1 with respect to protein, carbohydrate and fat, respectively, compared to Sc1. The highest protein water productivity (~ 0.31 kg protein m−3 water) was recorded with CA-based soybean-wheat-mungbean (Sc6) system followed by maize-mustard-mungbean on PBs (Sc4) system (~ 0.29 kg protein m−3) and lowest under Sc1. Integration of short duration legume (mungbean) improved the system productivity by 17.2% and profitability by 32.1%, while triple gains in irrigation water productivity compared to CT-based systems. In western IGP, maize-wheat-mungbean on PBs was found most productive, profitable and nutritionally rich and efficient system compared to other systems. Therefore, diversification of water intensive cereal rotations with inclusion of legumes and CA-based management optimization can be potential option to ensure nutritious food for the dwelling communities and sustainability of natural resources in the region

Effect of different modes of pollination on quantitative and qualitative parameters of Egyptian Clover, Trifolium alexandrinum L.

The effect of different modes of pollination on quantitative and qualitative parameters of Egyptian clover, Trifolium alexandrinum L. was studied at Forage Section, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, CCS, Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar during 2012 and 2013. Maximum seed setting (81.5%) was recorded in A. mellifera pollination with an 8 frame colony (BP-8F) followed by 4 frame colony (BP-4F) (75.1%), open pollination (OP) (73.8%) and 2 frame colony (BP-2F) (71.5%). Maximum seed yield (2662.3 seeds) was observed in treatment BP-8F followed by BP-4F (2373.8), OP (2316.3) and BP-2F (2235.5). Still lower yield of 2103.0 seeds was found in hand pollination (HP) treatment that was significantly higher than the without insect pollination (WIP) treatment (1114.2). Minimum 1000-seed weight was observed in WIP (2.64 g). The seed weight of BP-4F (3.30), HP (3.20), BP-2F (3.17) and OP (3.03), the heaviest seeds were recorded in BP-8F (3.62 g/1000 grains) and it was at par with the treatment BP-4F (3.30 g). Highest seed germination per cent was recorded in BP-8F (94.7) followed by OP (90.7%). Lowest germination was found in WIP (84.7%). Though some work has been done on this aspect in India but comprehensive pollination studies has not been worked out

METHOD DEVELOPMENT AND ITS VALIDATION FOR QUANTITATIVE DETERMINATION OF BOSENTAN IN TABLET DOSAGE FORM BY RP-HPLC

Objectives of this research work were development and validation of HPLC methods of analysis for Bosentan in tablet dosage form from single components as per the current ICH & USP guidelines. HPLC methods also validated for the marketed Bosentan from single components. This developed procedure applied for regular analysis of these medicaments in pharmaceutical industry The major scope of research is development of simple, accurate, reproducible & fast cost effective methods for new cefalosporins. The methods are validated with recovery studies using bulk drug of 80%, 120% & 40%. Specific method is confirmed by checkingdinterference of expients & assay method. The interday & intraday assay are also performed for checking robustness of the system. The minimum detection limit is checked by using formula LOD = 3.3 sigma (St&nd deviation) / Slop, where σ indicate st&ard deviation & S denotes slop of the regression straight line. The wuantification limit is detrmined by using LOQ = 10 σ d(St&. dev.)/ S that is minimum concentration of drug can be quantified. Linearity is found in the limit of Beer’s law, straight line was constructed within the given range of the conc. of the drugs. So can develop & validate a new, reproducible, correct, & easy, less time consuming, cheap & ecofriendly method for daily analysis of drug in our general life. Keywords: Bosentan, RP HPLC, method development and validation

Effect of potassium application on yield and quality of green gram (Vigna radiata L.) on coarse textured soils of southern Haryana

Crops need large quantity of potassium for enhancing their yield as well as quality. Pulses are important crops grown in India but their productivity is low. Among production inputs, recommendations for N and P fertilizers are made in most states with no K application resulting in imbalanced nutrient supply and lower crop yields.To quantify optimum dose for green gram ( Vigna radiata L.), a series of field experiments were conducted at Regional Research Station, CCS HAU, Bawal, Haryana, to assess the response of green gram to fertilizer potassium on coarse textured (Typic Haplustepts) soils of southern Haryana. After completion of research trials, crop was tested on farmer’s field through demonstrations and on farm trials (OFTs) to evaluate the response and adoptability of green gram as per the fertilizer potassium doses concluded in research experiment. Five levels of fertilizer potassium (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 kg K2O ha-1) were evaluated for the response of green gram in randomized block design replicated thrice. The results of research trials revealed that the yield, protein content and growth parameters of green gram increased significantly with the application of fertilizer potassium @20 kg K2O ha-1. Significantly higher yield of green gram was recorded (5.87, 16.29, 19.23 and 22.36 %) due to application of 10, 20, 30 and 40 kg K2O ha-1, respectively over control. The total K uptake by green gram increased significantly with the incremental doses of potassium application which helped to prevent the depletion of available soil K and build-up its content in the soil. The mean K use efficiency varied from 38.30 to 54.15 and maximum (54.15 %) was recorded with the application of 20 kg K2O ha-1. The benefit cost ratio was also increased with the application of potassium and reflected in terms of additional returns per rupee (Rs. 10.94, 15.63, 12.17 and 10.72) invested on application of K @ 10, 20, 30 and 40 kg K2O ha-1, respectively. The farmer’s field trial results with 0 and 20 kg K2O ha-1 revealed that application of 20 kg K2O ha-1 increased the yield of green gram by 10.87% over control

VALIDATION OF HPLC AND UV VISIBLE METHODS FOR FEW SELECTED BLOOD PRESSURE LOWERING DRUGS AND THEIR FORMULATIONS

Objective: A simple, precise and accurate RP-HPLC method has been developed and subsequently validated for simultaneous estimation of Aliskiren Hemifumarate and Nicardipine Besylate from their combination dosage form. Aliskiren and Nicardipine  are widely used antihypertensive drugs at present but their analytical methods are very costly and very complex to simplify the methods with increasing sensitivity new methods were developed which are simple, precise, eco-friendly, less time consuming, rapid and fast and economically chief. Methods: First standard curve was plotted then the method is validated by using recovery studies, linearity, correctness and reproducibility, robustness, ruggedness, detection limit,  quantification limits, stability studies etc.  The validated technique has been with success used for stress testing analysis of Aliskiren and Nicardipine. Results: The stress testing studies revealed that the tactic was with success utilized to resolve the degraded product from the sample. From the peak purity profile it had been demonstrated that there was no interference of degradation product and the purity of angle were found to be but the purity of threshold. This work was undertaken with an aim of developing HPLC and Specrophotometric techniques for analysis of Aliskiren and Nicardipine. Number of trials was taken for selection of column and M. Phase’. The proposed method was validated as per the ICH and USP guidelines. Conclusion: The stress testing studies revealed that the tactic was with success utilized to resolve the degraded product from the sample. From the peak purity profile it had been demonstrated that there was no interference of degradation product and the purity of angle were found to be but the purity of threshold. Peer Review History: Received 11 February 2017;   Revised 13 March; Accepted 14 March, Available online 15 March 2017 Academic Editor: Ahmad Najib, Universitas Muslim Indonesia,  Indonesia, [email protected] UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency. Received file:        Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 5.5/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.5/10 Reviewer(s) detail: Dr. Mohamed Salama, Modern University for Technology & Information, Egypt, [email protected] Dr. Mohammad Shaheen Khan, University Malaysia Sabah, Malaysia, [email protected] Articles: ANALYTICAL METHOD DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION FOR THE DETERMINATION OF OMEPRAZOLE AND ASPIRIN USING REVERSE PHASE HPLC METHOD IN BULK AND DOSAGE FOR

Diversification of rice (Oryza sativa L.)-based cropping systems for higher productivity, resource-use efficiency and economic returns in south Gujarat, India

The continuous growing of rice has led to a deterioration in soil quality, resulting in a serious threat to agricultural sustainability in the high rainfall zone of south Gujarat, India. Therefore, crop diversification with a wider choice in the production of crop varieties is being promoted to restore the soil quality. A field experiment was conducted in Navsari, India during 2003–2007 on a Vertisol to evaluate the productivity, sustainability, resource-use efficiency and economics of 10 rice-based cropping systems. The results showed that system productivity for rice–fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum)–okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) was highest (25.73 t ha71), followed by rice–onion (Allium cepa)–cowpea (Vigna sinensis L.) (24.15 t ha71); and the lowest system productivity was observed with the rice–wheat (Triticum aestivum)–fallow system (7.85 t ha71). The sustainable yield index (0.97), production efficiency (102.94 kg ha71 day71) and field water use efficiency (15.98 kg ha71 mm71) were maximum with the rice–fenugreek– okra system. Similarly, net return (96,286 Rs ha71), net return per rupee invested (2.83 Rs), monetary production efficiency (385.14 Rs ha71 day71) and water use efficiency (59.80 Rs ha71 mm71) were maximum with the rice–fenugreek–okra cropping sequence. There were significant effects of various cropping sequences on available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and organic carbon content in the soil. Overall, the rice–fenugreek–okra system was found to be the most productive, sustainable, resource-use efficient and remunerative cropping system, followed by the rice–onion–cowpea system

Behaviour of Quality Protein Maize (QPM) genotypes under well irrigated and water stress conditions in subtropical climate

Drought or water stress is one of the prime problems affecting production of maize at global level. A major objective of QPM breeding programs in semi arid tropics or subtropical climatic conditions is to increase genetic potential of QPM genotypes under water stress conditions. In order to identify drought tolerant single cross QPM hybrids an experiment with 85 genotypes was conducted under well irrigated and water stress conditions. Six drought tolerance indices viz, mean productivity (MP), geometric mean productivity (GMP), yield index (YI), tolerance index (TOL), stress susceptibility index (SSI), and superiority measures (SM) were used on the basis of grain yield in water stress (Ys) and well irrigated (Yp) conditions. Highest significant positive correlations were observed among MP, GMP and YI indices. The hybrids 75, 38, 27, and 50 were more drought tolerant based on drought tolerance indices. Three dimensional plot, bi-plot and cluster analysis confirmed these results. Principal component analysis reduced six indices down to two components with 90.71% proportional cumulative variance. Genotypes were grouped by two ways cluster analysis (using Ward’s method) based on Yp, Ys and drought tolerance indices. Also, the results of correlation, 3D graphs, bi-plot and cluster analysis reveals that the most suitable indices to screen QPM genotypes in drought stress conditions were MP, GMP and YI. These indices could be used in QPM breeding programs to introduce drought tolerance in single cross hybrids

Diagnosis of Aortic Graft Infection: A Case Definition by the Management of Aortic Graft Infection Collaboration (MAGIC)

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND: The management of aortic graft infection (AGI) is highly complex and in the absence of a universally accepted case definition and evidence-based guidelines, clinical approaches and outcomes vary widely. The objective was to define precise criteria for diagnosing AGI. METHODS: A process of expert review and consensus, involving formal collaboration between vascular surgeons, infection specialists, and radiologists from several English National Health Service hospital Trusts with large vascular services (Management of Aortic Graft Infection Collaboration [MAGIC]), produced the definition. RESULTS: Diagnostic criteria from three categories were classified as major or minor. It is proposed that AGI should be suspected if a single major criterion or two or more minor criteria from different categories are present. AGI is diagnosed if there is one major plus any criterion (major or minor) from another category. (i) Clinical/surgical major criteria comprise intraoperative identification of pus around a graft and situations where direct communication between the prosthesis and a nonsterile site exists, including fistulae, exposed grafts in open wounds, and deployment of an endovascular stent-graft into an infected field (e.g., mycotic aneurysm); minor criteria are localized AGI features or fever ≥38°C, where AGI is the most likely cause. (ii) Radiological major criteria comprise increasing perigraft gas volume on serial computed tomography (CT) imaging or perigraft gas or fluid (≥7 weeks and ≥3 months, respectively) postimplantation; minor criteria include other CT features or evidence from alternative imaging techniques. (iii) Laboratory major criteria comprise isolation of microorganisms from percutaneous aspirates of perigraft fluid, explanted grafts, and other intraoperative specimens; minor criteria are positive blood cultures or elevated inflammatory indices with no alternative source. CONCLUSION: This AGI definition potentially offers a practical and consistent diagnostic standard, essential for comparing clinical management strategies, trial design, and developing evidence-based guidelines. It requires validation that is planned in a multicenter, clinical service database supported by the Vascular Society of Great Britain & Ireland