Volumetric and Viscometric Studies of Molecular Interactions in Binary N,N-Dimethylacetamide + Benzyl Alcohol Mixtures at Different Temperatures

The densities, ρ, and viscosities, η, of pure N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA) and benzyl alcohol (BA), and nine of their binary mixtures covering the entire composition range have been measured at 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45°C. The experimental ρ and η values were correlated with composition and temperature by using some empirical relations. The excess volumes, VE, deviation in viscosities, Δη , excess Gibbs energies of activation of viscous flow, ΔG*E, and paal molar volumes, Vo1 and Vo2 ,of DMA in BA and BA in DMA, respectively, at infinite dilution have been evaluated from the experimental data. The variations of these parameters with composition and temperature indicate the presence of specific interactions, namely hydrogen bonding and dipole-dipole forces between unlike molecules, which decrease with rise in temperature. Furthermore, the enthalpies, ΔH*, and entropies, ΔS*, of activation of viscous flow have also been obtained by using the Eyring viscosity equation and fitting the results to some empirical relations. The ΔH* values were found to be dependent on temperature. The dependencies of ΔH* and ΔS* on the compositions of the mixtures have been discussed.Keywords: Density, viscosity, binary mixtures, molecular interactions

Soil Microbial Rejuvenation through Soil Resource Recycling as a part of Sustainable Management Programme: A Case Study from Lakhipara Tea Estate, Dooars, West Bengal, India

Quest for sustainability in the Indian tea industry starts on a serious note in the backdrop of several key issues such as impact of climate change on crop productivity, higher intensity of pest and diseases, rampant use of agrochemicals, issue of pesticide residues, increasing mandays cost etc. In this difficult time when most of the tea producers are looking for areas for cost curtailment, Goodricke Group Ltd., initiated the Sustainable Management Programme with the objectivity of producing sustainable teas with low pesticide footprint from the year 2014 onwards. The present study was conducted as a part of the above programme, to evaluate the effectiveness of on-farm generated compost towards soil microbial enrichment. Large-scale composting was done using Novcom composting method and end product quality was analyzed as per International Standards. Total N, P, K in the mature compost was 1.97%, 0.75%, and 0.87%, respectively but most important was the presence of self-generated microbial population in the order of 1014–1016 c.f.u. The rate of CO2 evolution, nitrification index and phytotoxicity bioassay value confirmed end product maturity and absence of any toxicity towards root growth. Assessment of Soil development Index (SDI), one year post compost application showed maximum soil development under organic soil management followed by soils receiving integrated soil management whereas nominal variation was documented under conventional soil management. Biological properties of soil were found to play a major contributory role towards variation of SDI value indicating the importance of microbial rejuvenation towards soil quality development

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Not AvailableThe sustainability of rice production systems globally is intricately related to the chemistry, physics and biology of rice soils – with basic properties differing considerably in wet/dry land soils, tropical/temperate areas or even with the soil surface or rhizosphere niche of the field. Rice fields represent unique aqua-terrestrial ecosystems in which the tremendous diversity of soil microbes, soil fauna and plants – ranging in function from nitrogen fixers, nitrifiers, methanogens, methane oxidizers, phosphate-dissolving microbes, sulfur oxidizers to catabolizers of pesticides is observed. This diversity is inclusive of bacteria, cyanobacteria, archaea, planctomycetes and β-proteobacteria, besides the increasing members of endophytes associated. The complexity and dynamic nature of this ecosystem requires in-depth investigations of the tripartite interactions among plants, microbes and the soil–water environment. This needs to be complemented with studies on the ecological compartmentalization due to diffusion gradients of nutrients and gases, which is of extreme significance in the current scenario of problems associated with greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural areas, especially rice paddies. This article provides an overview of the interactions between the microflora and crop, with emphasis on nutrient transformations in the rhizosphere, so as to develop effective and efficient environmentally sustainable strategies for this crop.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableCurrently, most of the energy demand around the world is met from crude oil, coal and natural gas. Due to the fluctuations in price of crude oil, depletion of fossil fuel and increased concern about environmental pollution the development of clean and renewable energy is imminent. In this context, lignocellulosic biomass plays a significant role by having a potential as substrate for bio-ethanol production and to supplement/replace the petroleum based fuels in near future. Lignocellulosic biorefinery is an emerging industry that uses renewable resources to produce clean and environment friendly bioenergy. In future, lignocellulosic based bio-ethanol will become a key factor in shifting the dependency of transport sector towards renewable and sustainable energy resources from the petroleum based sources. However, major technological and economic hurdles are impeding the successful deployment of this technology at commercial level. This review focuses on recent developments and cost effective technologies in pretreatments, saccharification and fermentation process for conversion of biomass into bio-ethanol.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableThe potential of two epigeic earthworms (Perionyx excavatus and Eisenia foetida) was studied for composting of crop residues (wheat straw and paddy straw) amended with farm yard manure. At the end of vermicomposting significant increase in total nitrogen (71 -150%), phosphorus (49 %–116%) and potassium (26.3–142%), along with decrease in organic carbon was recorded in different experimental vermibeds. Maximum total nitrogen as well as available phosphorous concentration was observed from vermibeds inoculated with E. foetida, whereas increased exchangeable potassium and reduction in organic carbon was shown in vermicompost produced by P. excavatus. Enhanced hydrolytic enzyme activities of CMCases (1.51 folds), Fpases (2.11 folds) and β-glucosidases (1.38 folds) were recorded in treatments vermicomposted with P. excavatus. Microbial activity parameters such as dehydrogenase, FDA hydrolase, alkaline phophatase, were also monitored during decomposition process and gradual increase was recorded in vermibeds up to 90 days of experimentation. The mean individual live weight, growth rate (mg wt. worm -1 day-1 ) of earthworm were higher for P. excavatus as compared to E. foetida. Overall, P. excavatus exhibited better growth and mineralization efficiency, which further support the suitability of the species for large scale vermiculture operations.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableMicrobial biofilms are gaining importance in agriculture, due to their multifaceted agronomic benefits and resilience to environmental fluctuations. This study focuses on comparing the influence of single inoculation-Azotobacter chroococcum (Az) or Trichoderma viride (Tv) and their biofilm (Tv-Az), on soil and plant metabolic activities in wheat and cotton grown under Phytotron conditions. Tv-Az proved superior to all the other treatments in terms of better colonisation, plant growth attributes and 10-40% enhanced availability of macronutrients and micronutrients in the soil, over control. Confocal and scanning electron microscopy showed that the cells attached to the root tips initially, followed by their proliferation along the surface of the roots. Soil polysaccharides, proteins and dehydrogenase activity showed several fold enhancement in Tv-Az biofilm inoculated samples. Time course studies revealed that the population of Az and Tv in the rhizoplane and rhizosphere was significantly higher with a 0.14-0.31 log colony-forming unit (CFU) increase in the biofilm-inoculated treatment in both crops. Enhancement in soil biological activities was facilitated by the improved colonisation of the biofilm, due to the synergistic association between Tv and Az. This demonstrates the utility of Tv-Az biofilm as a multifunctional plant growth promoting and soil fertility enhancing option in agriculture.Not Availabl