Genotype dependent response to Azospirillum treatment in yield and nitrogenase activity in Brassica juncea L.

Twelve advanced lines of mustard (Brassica juncea L.) were evaluated for response to treatment with Azospirillum brasilense in yield and a few components. Two lines gave yield increases with concomitant increases in nitrogenase activity and Azospirillum population. In general, there were desirable and significant correlations between plot yield, nitrogenase activity and log, (Azospirillum population). The results point to the possibility of utilizing genotype-dependent response to Azospirillum in breeding programmes and also for exploring new avenues of Azospirillum-based cultural practices in sustaining improved productivity

Sulphanilamides. Part I: Salts with sulphonic acids

This article does not have an abstract

Toxicity studies of butachlor to the freshwater fish, Channa punctatus (Bloch).

Abstract: The toxicity studies were conducted on the fish Channa punctata (Bloch) by employing static and continuous flow through systems, for the toxicant butachlor (technical grade + ) and its commercial formulation + (machete 50% E

Instruments of RT-2 Experiment onboard CORONAS-PHOTON and their test and evaluation II: RT-2/CZT payload

Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT) detectors are high sensitivity and high resolution devices for hard X-ray imaging and spectroscopic studies. The new series of CZT detector modules (OMS40G256) manufactured by Orbotech Medical Solutions (OMS), Israel, are used in the RT-2/CZT payload onboard the CORONAS-PHOTON satellite. The CZT detectors, sensitive in the energy range of 20 keV to 150 keV, are used to image solar flares in hard X-rays. Since these modules are essentially manufactured for commercial applications, we have carried out a series of comprehensive tests on these modules so that they can be confidently used in space-borne systems. These tests lead us to select the best three pieces of the 'Gold' modules for the RT-2/CZT payload. This paper presents the characterization of CZT modules and the criteria followed for selecting the ones for the RT-2/CZT payload. The RT-2/CZT payload carries, along with three CZT modules, a high spatial resolution CMOS detector for high resolution imaging of transient X-ray events. Therefore, we discuss the characterization of the CMOS detector as well.Comment: 26 pages, 19 figures, Accepted for publication in Experimental Astronomy (in press

Soil Enzymes: Indicator for Soil Health under Fruit based Agri-Horti System

Agroforestry as a sustainable land management system, which increases the yield of the land, combines production of crops (including tree crops) and forest plants and/or animals simultaneously or sequentially. Among the different agroforestry system practices in hill area agri-horti system is one of the most important system because of its specific environmental conditions and natural availability of wide range of fruit trees (citrus, apple, walnut, plum, peach, pear, apricot etc.). In Northwestern hill region viz. Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir horticulture is the backbone of these states economy which supports about 1.5-2.0 million families and, provides direct or indirect employment to 8-10 million peoples with revenue of more than 1 billion $ (USD) annually. In several studies it was reported that plant’s active root system releases about 17% of photosynthate detained in the form of organic compounds into the rhizosphere, most of which is available to the plant by the different soil microbial activities. The soil enzymatic activity play a significant role in efficient utilization of natural resources through agri-horti production system to enhance the soil sustainability and system productivity by the mechanisms of organic matter decomposition, soil stabilization, nutrient cycling, catalyzing several biochemical reactions in the soil system1,2. In recent years, studies soil enzymes activity have engaged the attention of many researchers. However, most of these studies are confined to agricultural cropping systems3 and forest ecosystems but, information regarding those under temperate fruit crops like peach, pear, apricot, lemon, plum etc., are very limited. The hypothesis of this experiment was that the different temperate fruit crops could have differential microbial activity in the rhizospheric soil (surface and sub-surface), influenced by management practice as well as quality of litter fall and root exudates. We assume that information produced from this study will help in understanding of microbial mediated nutrient dynamics and their management under temperate fruit crops in N-W hilly area