Zinc Deficiency in Humans and its Amelioration

Zinc (Zn) deficiency in humans has recently received considerable attention. Global mortality in children under 5 years of age in 2004 due to Zn deficiency was estimated at 4,53,207 as against 6,66,771 for vitamin A deficiency; 20,854 for iron deficiency and 3,619 for iodine deficiency. In humans 2800-3000 proteins contain Zn prosthetic group and Zn is an integral component of zinc finger prints that regulate DNA transcription. Zinc is a Type-2 nutrient, which means that its concentration in blood does not decrease in proportion of the Zn deficiency. Adverse effects of Zn deficiency vary with age: low weight gain, diarrhoea, aneroxia and neurobehavioral disturbances are observed in infants, while skin changes and dwarfism are frequent in toddlers and adolescents. Common manifestations of Zn deficiency among elderly include hypogeusia, chronic non-healing ulcers and recurrent infections. Ameliorative measures of Zn deficiency in humans can be classified in two groups, namely, nutraceutical and biofortification of food grains. Nutraceutical interventions include pharmaceutical supplements, dietary supplements and dietary diversification, while biofortification of food grains can be achieved by genetic modification (GM) of crops or by agronomic techniques that include soil or/and foliar fertilization of crops. The major disadvantage of nutraceutical approaches is that the major beneficiaries are urban people and the poor rural masses that need adequate Zn nutrition most are left out. Genetic biofortification of food grains requires large amounts of funds and a fairly long-period of time. Further, a large number of countries have not yet accepted genetically modified (GM) foods. On the other hand agronomic biofortification of food grains yields immediate effects and rural and urban people are equally benefitted. Our studies have shown that Zn concentration in cereals (rice, wheat etc) and pulses can be considerably increased by soil or/and foliar fertilization of cereal and pulse crops with Zn. Needless to add that cereals and pulses are the major components of a vegetarian human diet in India

Effect of source and methods of zinc application on corn productivity, nitrogen and zinc concentrations and uptake by high quality protein corn (Zea mays)

Results of a field study conducted at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India showed that the combined application of soil + foliar (in two sprays at tasseling and initiation of flowering) produced significantly more grain and stover yields than either soil or foliar applications alone. Application of Zn-coated urea was better than soil application of Zn sulphate with regard to grain and stover yields. The combined application also recorded the highest Zn concentration in corn grain as well as in stover, with the treatments falling in the following order: combined ˃ foliar ˃ soil through Zn-coated urea ˃ soil. This is an important finding for the agronomic biofortification of Zn in corn.Keywords: Crude protein; foliar application of zinc, zinc biofortification, zinc-coated urea, zinc sulphat

Sulphur-coated urea as a source of sulphur and an enhanced efficiency of nitrogen fertilizer for spring wheat

Use of high analysis fertilizers such as diammonium phosphate in place of ordinary superphosphate and urea in place of ammonium sulphate over years, sulphur application to crop fields has considerably decreased, which has led to widespread sulphur deficiency in Indian soils. Hence, considering this into account a field study for two years was conducted at the research farm of ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi to evaluate sulphur-coated urea (SCU) as a source of sulphur (S) and an enhanced efficiency of nitrogen fertilizer. Prilled urea (PU) coated with 4 to 5% S significantly increased wheat grain yield to the tune of 9.58 to 11.21% and nitrogen 19.06 to 23.94% and sulphur uptake 21.76 to 29.29% over prilled urea alone by wheat. However, net return and benefit: cost ratio was the highest and significant at 5% S coating onto PU. Five % SCU supplied 50% of the sulphur needs of the wheat crop and enhanced nitrogen recovery efficiency by 60% and is therefore recommended as sulphur as well as enhanced efficiency of nitrogen fertilizer for wheat in Indo-Gangetic plains of India. This is an important finding considering the environmental safety by increased nitrogen recovery and also productivity in present scenario

On the existence and decay in a new thermoelastic theory with two temperatures

In this work, we study a new two-temperatures thermoelastic model. Both thermodynamic and conductive temperatures are included, being related by means of an elliptic or parabolic equation. Then, two problems are considered assuming the dependence or not on the rate conductivity temperature. Existence of solutions for the three-dimensional setting and the exponential energy decay in the one-dimensional case are shownPeer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Yield, Profitability And Soil Health As Influenced By Long-Term Application Of Biomanures, Biofertilizers And Crop Residues In Organic Rice-Based Cropping Systems

For wider adoption of organic systems in India, the crop production technologies need to be evolved for varied soils and cropping systems. Among other field limitations, inefficient nutrient management results in low yields under organic systems. A 10 years’ field experiment evaluated the effect of two rice-based cropping systems and seven nutrient management practices on yield, economics and soil health under organic management. Rice-wheat-mungbean system recorded significantly higher profits, and 13% and 6% higher grain yields of rice and wheat crops, respectively, over rice-wheat system. Levels of organic carbon, total N, available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and micronutrients increased significantly and substantially due to inclusion of mungbean in rice-wheat cropping system. Application of FYM + crop residue + biofertilizers was most profitable practice in rice-based cropping systems

Production potential of baby corn (Zea mays) on raised bed in waterlogged lowland rice fallow in North East India

A field experiment was conducted during rainy (Kharif) season of 2008-09 and 2009-10 at research farm of ICAR-Research Complex of NEH Region of Umiam, Meghalaya, to study the production potential of baby corn (Zea mays L.) as influenced by raised bed height in waterlogged low land area and nitrogen levels. Taller plants with more number of leaves were recorded with 50 cm height of raised bed. The days to harvest initiation and harvest duration were more at 50 cm height of raised bed. The barrenness in baby corn was also comparatively lesser with 50 cm height of raised bed. The maximum baby corn and fodder yield was recorded with 50 cm height of raised bed, which were 11.3 and 10.7% higher than 40 cm height of raised bed. Further, decrease in height of raised bed up to 30 and 20 cm markedly reduced babycorn yield as compared to 50 cm height of raised bed. The nitrogen content and uptake, protein yield, nitrogen use efficiency and economical parameters were also higher at 50 cm height of raised bed. Increasing nitrogen level produced taller plants with more number of leaves. The harvest initiation decreased by 4 days while harvest duration was increased by 4 days with 120 kg N/ha. The barrenness declined with increasing nitrogen levels. The highest baby corn yield, nitrogen uptake and protein yield were recorded with 80 kg N/ha. Increasing nitrogen levels progressively reduced agronomic N use efficiency and physiological efficiency of nitrogen, but apparent recovery increased up to 80 kg N/ha. The gross, net return and benefit: cost ratio were higher with 80 kg N/ha. Therefore, for getting higher yield and net return, the baby corn should be grown at 50 cm height above the moisture level on raised bed and fertilized at the rate of 80 kg N/ha

Effect of dual-purpose summer legumes and zinc fertilization on system productivity, economics and nutrient use-efficiencies of rice (Oryza sativa) – wheat (Triticum aestivum) cropping system

A field experiment was conducted during 2007-09 at the research farm of IARI, New Delhi, India; to study the effects of dual-purpose summer legumes and zinc fertilization in aromatic hybrid rice (Oryza sativa L.)– wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping system. The higher system productivity, N and Zn uptake, nutrient-use efficiencies, net return and B:C ratio were recorded in cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] or mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) residue incorporated plots. The N balance was negative (-) in all treatments but it was least negative (-) in cowpea among summer treatments followed by mungbean. The highest N and Zn uptake, system productivity in terms of grain yield, i.e. 12.32 and 12.71 tonnes/ha was observed with application of 2.0% ZEU (ZnSO4.7H2O). Among the Zn fertilization treatments the lowest negative (-) balance of N was recorded with control (only N), i.e. -36.92 kg/ha in 2007-08 however in 2008-09 it was recorded with coating material coated urea, i.e. -39.54 kg N/ha over rest of the Zn treatments. The application of 5.0 kg Zn/ha (ZnO) gave the highest (2 696 and 2 601 g/ha during 2007-08 and 2008-09, respectively) positive Zn balance under rice-wheat cropping system. Partial factor productivity, agronomic efficiency, apparent recovery and physiological efficiency of applied N and Zn in rice-wheat cropping system were increased with Zn-enriched urea. The agronomic efficiency of N with 2.0% ZEU (ZnSO4.7H2O) increased by 49.7% and the N recovery efficiency in grain increased up to 57.6% over normal practice of prilled urea application. With the application of 2.0% ZEU (ZnSO4.7H2O) the agronomic efficiency of Zn increased in the range of 54 to 160% while Zn apparent recovery (%) in grain increased from 70 to 318% over 2.0% ZEU (ZnO) and 5.0 kg Zn/ha (ZnO), respectively. The dual-purpose summer legume incorporation in rice-wheat system gave higher net returns by 29 to 34% in 2007-08 and 42 to 45% during 2008-09 over summer fallow with B:C ratio up to 3.01. The application of 2.0% ZEU (ZnSO4.7H2O) gave the highest B:C ratio of 3.02 and increased net returns of aromatic-hybrid rice-wheat system by 11.6 to 12.2% over prilled urea application

POTASSIUM FERTILIZATION FOR DIRECT SEEDED BASMATI RICE

Not AvailableThe effect of potassium (K) application based on 4R stewardship (right rate, time, method, and source) on growth, yield attributes and yields of dry direct seeded basmati rice (Oryza sativa L.) was evaluated during rainy (kharif) season of 2015 and 2016 at IARI, New Delhi. Application of recommended dose of K (60 kg/ha), half as basal and remaining half at panicle initiation (PI) stage increased the grain (5.4 t/ha) and straw yields (7.65 t/ha) by 10 and 4% respectively, over applying the full dose as basal. A strong, positive and significant correlation was observed between yield attributes [panicle weight (r2=0.79), panicle length (r2=0.83), fertility % (r2=0.84)] and yield of dry direct seeded basmati rice. Similarly, positive and significant correlation was observed between leaf area index at 60 DAS (r2=0.73) & 90 DAS (r2=0.91) and dry matter production. The two foliar sprays of 2.5% potassium nitrate (1st at active tillering, and 2nd at panicle initiation) increased fertility (83.5%) and grain yield (4.3 t/ha) by 6% and 8% respectively, over control. However, the combined application of foliar sprays and two split application of recommended dose of K showed non-significant effect on growth, yield and yield attributes. Thus, to obtain higher yield in dry direct seeded basmati rice, application of 60 kg/ha, half as basal and remaining half at panicle initiation (PI) is recommended.Not Availabl

COMPARATIVE STUDIES ON COMPOSTING EFFICIENCY OF Eisenia foetida (SAVIGNY) AND Perionyx excavatus (PERRIER)

KEYWORDS Agrowaste Vermicomposting P. excavatus E. foetida Epigeic earthworms ABSTRACT The 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

Enhancing physiological metrics, yield, zinc bioavailability, and economic viability of Basmati rice through nano zinc fertilization and summer green manuring in semi–arid South Asian ecosystem

During the summer and rainy seasons (April-October) of 2020 and 2021, two consecutive field experiments were conducted at the research farm of the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India. In this study, we examined the effects of summer green manuring crops (GM) and a variety of zinc fertilizers (ZnF) on Basmati rice (Oryza sativa L.) growth, physiological development, yield response, zinc nutrition and economic returns. A combination of GM residues and nano zinc fertilization helped significantly enhancing Basmati rice’s growth and its physiological development. Following the incorporation of Sesbania aculeata (Sesbania), successive Basmati rice physiological parameters were significantly improved, as well as grain, straw, biological yields, harvest index and economic returns. The highest Zn content of 15.1 mg kg -1 and the lowest of 11.8 mg kg -1 in milled rice grain were recorded in Sesbania green manuring (G2) and control i.e., in the fallow (G1), respectively. Coating onto urea with 0.2% nano zinc oxide (NZnCU) was observed to be more effective than other zinc sources in terms of growth parameters, yield attributes, zinc nutrition, grain and straw yields for succeeding Basmati rice crop; however, the effects were comparable to those of bulk zinc oxide-coated urea (BZnCU) of 1%. The highest Zn content of 15.1 mg kg -1 was recorded with the application of 1% BZnCU and the lowest of 11.96 mg kg -1 with the soil application of 5 kg Zn ha -1 through bulk ZnO in the milled rice grain. Application of 1% BZnCU led to a 26.25% increase in Zn content of milled rice grain compared to soil application of 5 kg Zn ha -1 through bulk ZnO. As a result, the combination of inclusion of Sesbania aculeata (Sesbania) residue and 0.2% NZnCU was identified as the most effective treatment, for Basmati rice growth and physiological development. A combination of nano Zn fertilization in conjunction with the incorporation of green manure can be advocated for better growth, physiological performance, zinc dense grains, and higher profitability of Basmati rice for farmers and consumers