Variations of growth parameters in transplanted Aman rice (cv. BRRI dhan39) in response to plant spacing and fertilizer management

The experiments were carried out at the Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh during June to December 2015 to investigate the effect of spacing and fertilizer management on the growth parameters of transplant Aman rice cv. BRRI dhan39. The experiment comprised of five spacing’s viz. 25 cm × 5 cm, 25 cm × 10 cm, 25 cm × 15 cm, 25 cm × 20 cm, 25 cm × 25 cm, and four fertilizer treatments viz. no manure and no fertilizer (control), recommended dose of chemical fertilizer (80-60-40 kg N, P2O5, K2O ha-1,respectively + 60 kg ha-1 gypsum + 10 kg ha-1 ZnSO4), 75% recommended dose of inorganic fertilizer + cow dung at 5 t ha-1,75% recommended dose of inorganic fertilizer + poultry manure @ 2.5 t ha-1. The highest and lowest plant height was found in spacing 25 cm × 15 cm, and 25 cm × 5 cm, respectively at all dates of observations. Spacing 25 cm × 15 cm, produced the highest number of tillers hill-1 at 80 DAT. Leaf area index (LAI) and total dry matter (TDM) hill-1 were the highest in 25 cm × 15 cm spacing and lowest in 25 cm × 5 cm spacing. The highest plant height, LAI and total TDM hill-1 were recorded in 75% recommended dose of inorganic fertilizer + cow dung at 5 t ha-1 and the lowest values were observed in control treatment. In case of interaction, the highest number of tillers hill-1, leaf area index and total dry matter hill-1 were obtained in spacing 25 cm × 15 cm fertilized with 75% recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers + cow dung at 5 t ha-1.Therefore, 25 cm × 15 cm spacing combined with 75% recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers + cow dung at 5 t ha-1 appeared as the promising practice in transplant Aman rice cv. BRRI dhan39 cultivation in terms of growth parameters

Impact of row arrangements, age of tiller seedlings and number of tiller seedlings hill-1 on the growth performance of transplanted Aman rice (cv. BR23)

The experiment was carried out at the Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh to see the effect of row arrangements, age of tiller seedlings and number of tiller seedlings hill-1 on growth of transplant Aman rice (cv. BR23). The experiment comprised three row arrangements viz. single, double and triple row; two ages of tiller seedling viz. 25 and 35 days and three levels of number of tiller seedlings hill-1 viz., 2, 4 and 6 tiller seedlings hill-1. The effect of row arrangement, age of tiller seedlings and number of tiller seedlings hill-1 were significant on plant height, number of leaves hill-1, number of total tillers hill-1, leaf dry weight, stem dry weight and total dry weight. The tallest plants at 70 DAT, the highest number of leaves and leaf dry weight were found at 25, 40, 55 and 70 DAT in single row arrangement which was as good as double row arrangement while shorter plant and the lowest number of leaves hill-1 were found in triple row arrangement. The highest stem and total dry matter production hill-1 were recorded in triple row arrangement and the lowest were found in single row arrangement. Wider spacing significantly increased plant height, total tiller production hill-1, leaf production hill-1and leaf dry matter production while closer spacing of triple rows enhance stem and total dry matter production hill-1. Transplanted Aman rice (BR23) can be grown in single rows for the highest plant height, more tiller production, leaf production and leaf dry matter production hill-1. In case of total dry matter production cv. BR23 can be grown in triple rows by transplanting 35-day old seedlings with 6 tiller seedlings hill-1

Adequacy of multinomial logit model with nominal responses over binary logit model.

The aim of this study was to fit a multinomial logit model and check whether any gain achieved by this complicated model over binary logit model. It is quite common in practice, the categorical response have more than two levels. Multinomial logit model is a straightforward extension of binary logit model. When response variable is nominal with more than two levels and the explanatory variables are mixed of interval and nominal scale, multinomial logit analysis is appropriate than binary logit model. The maximum likelihood method of estimation is employed to obtain the estimates and consequently Wald test and likelihood ratio test have been used. The findings suggest that parameter estimates under two logits were similar since neither Wald statistic was significant. Thus, it can be concluded that complicated multinomial logit model was no better than the simpler binary logit model. In case of response variable having more than two levels in categorical data analysis, it is strongly recommended that the adequacy of the multinomial logit model over binary logit model should be justified in its fitting process

An experimental study of Primary Cosmic Rays at the knee energy region by observation of Extensive Air Showers (EAS)

Simultaneous measurements have been made of the radial (lateral) electron density distribution and the radial muon density distribution at various measured muon energies in the range 2.5–100 GeV in vertically incident EAS in the size range 3.153104 –1.793106 (primary energy range 2.431014 –8.331015 eV) particles detected near sea level. The characteristics of these radial distributions in terms of the measured shower parameters have been determined and used to draw conclusions about the average nuclear mass of the primaries of these EAS

Major integrated environmental system for relocation of 540 tanneries in Kolkata City - a biggest environmental project of its kind in Asia

The tanning industry is one of the oldest and fastest growing industries in South and South East Asia. There are more than 3000 tanneries located in India with a total processing capacity of 700,000 tones of hides and skins per year. The wastewater discharge from these tanneries is about 100,000 cubic meters per day. More than 90% tanneries are in small and medium scale sector with processing capacities of less than 2-3 tons of hides/ skins per day

Epidemiology of HIV Infection Among Brothel-based Sex Workers in Kolkata, India

A cross-sectional study was carried out during January-June 2004 to assess the status of HIV infection among brothel-based sex workers in Kolkata city, India. Six hundred and twenty-two sex workers, selected from six brothels, were included in the study to assess their HIV status, and 362 sex workers, a subset of the above population, were interviewed to study their risk behaviour and practices. Blood samples were collected from each sex worker for testing HIV by an unlinked anonymous method. The prevalence of HIV infection was 9.6%, but was much higher among younger sex workers aged 20 years or less (27.7%) compared to the older age group (8.4%). This difference was statistically significant, indicating an association of younger ages with HIV infection [p=0.006 and odds ratio (OR)=4.18; (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2-13.8)]. HIV was not associated with duration of sex work, average number of clients entertained per day, condom use, practice of sex during menstruation, precoital examination of penis for visible ulcer/discharge, suffering from sexually transmitted infections, and entertaining clients outside the brothel. There was a big gap between the reported and the evaluated condom use by sex workers. The results suggest that there is a need to develop suitable HIV intervention strategies, considering the socioeconomic and cultural aspects of city sex workers, with a provision for continuous monitoring and evaluation

Metal concentrations in sediments from tourist beaches of Miri City, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo Island)

Forty-three sediment samples were collected from the beaches of Miri City, Sarawak, Malaysia to identify the enrichment of partially leached trace metals (PLTMs) from six different tourist beaches. The samples were analyzed for PLTMs Fe, Mn, Cr, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sr and Zn. The concentration pattern suggest that the southern side of the study area is enriched with Fe (1821–6097 μg g−1), Mn (11.57–90.22 μg g−1), Cr (51.50–311 μg g−1), Ni (18–51 μg g−1), Pb (8.81–84.05 μg g−1), Sr (25.95–140.49 μg g−1) and Zn (12.46–35.04 μg g−1). Compared to the eco-toxicological values, Cr > Effects range low (ERL), Lowest effect level (LEL), Severe effect level (SEL); Cu > Unpolluted sediments, ERL, LEL; Pb > Unpolluted sediments and Ni > ERL and LEL. Comparative results with other regions indicate that Co, Cr, Cu, Ni and Zn are higher, indicating an external input rather than natural process

Defects induced ferromagnetism in Mn doped ZnO

Single phase Mn doped (2 at %) ZnO samples have been synthesized by solid-state reaction technique. Before the final sintering at 500 C, the mixed powders have been milled for different milling periods (6, 24, 48 and 96 hours). The grain sizes of the samples are very close to each other (~ 32 \pm 4 nm). However, the defective state of the samples is different from each other as manifested from the variation of magnetic properties and electrical resistivity with milling time. All the samples have been found to be ferromagnetic with clear hysteresis loops at room temperature. The maximum value for saturation magnetization (0.11 {\mu}_B / Mn atom) was achieved for 96 hours milled sample. Electrical resistivity has been found to increase with increasing milling time. The most resistive sample bears the largest saturation magnetization. Variation of average positron lifetime with milling time bears a close similarity with that of the saturation magnetization. This indicates the key role played by open volume vacancy defects, presumably zinc vacancies near grain surfaces, in inducing ferromagnetic order in Mn doped ZnO. To attain optimum defect configuration favorable for ferromagnetism in this kind of samples proper choice of milling period and annealing conditions is required.Comment: Accepted in Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Material

Economic assessment of use of pond ash in pavements

The paper introduces a new type of industrial waste-based subbase material which can replace conventional subbase material (CSM) in pavement construction. Utilisation of this industrial waste, namely pond coal ash produced from a thermal power plant in road construction will help to reduce the disposal problem of this waste and also will help to reduce the problem of scarcity of CSM. Lime and fibre were also added to the pond ash at various percentages to improve the suitability of this type of mix as subbase material. The optimum service life of pavement is studied with the help of numerical modelling and the cost benefit is also presented in the current study. The study reveals that stabilisation of the coal ash with 2% lime may produce an optimal material and, even though a greater thickness may be required to deliver the same pavement performance, direct cost savings of around 10% may be achieved in addition to less easily quantifiable environmental benefits. Design charts are provided to exploit the findings