Growth and development of blackgram (Vigna mungo) under foliar application of Panchagavya as organic source of nutrient

The present study was aimed to improve the growth and development of Blackgram (Vigna mungo) under foliar application of panchagavya as organic nutrient. A pot culture experiment was conducted at the Experimental farm during March-May 2010 season to evaluate the efficacy of Panchagavya foliar spray and NPK on the physiological growth and yield of Blackgram (Vigna mungo) cv. ADT-3. The results of the experiment revealed that foliar application of Panchagavya recorded significant improvement in chlorophyll content, N content of root nodules, plant height, number of branches per plant, leaf area index (LAI) and dry matter production when compared with NPK and control. Yield attributes such as number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, test weight and grain yield were also recorded significantly higher under foliar application of Panchagavya over NPK and control. Three percent Panchagavya foliar spray given at 15th, 25th, 35th and 45th days of interval period recorded significantly higher growth and yield of Blackgram than NPK and untreated control

Milk Production Potential of Different Dairy Pasture Types in Southern Australia

The growth rate of traditional perennial ryegrass-based pastures commonly fails to meet herd feed requirements through winter and summer in non-irrigated dairy systems in southern Australia. Alternative pasture species can improve seasonal feed supply in this region (Tharmaraj & Chapman, 2005). However, the feeding value and milk production of these pastures must at least match perennial ryegrass if they are to be adopted successfully on dairy farms. This paper reports results of a comparison of the milk production potential of pasture types similar to those investigated by Tharmaraj & Chapman (2005) for their agronomic performance

Influence of vermicompost and vermiwash on physico chemical properties of rice cultivated soil

In this study the effect of vermicompost on soil chemical and physical properties was evaluated during samba rice cultivation studies. The experiments were arranged in a completely randomized block design manner with three replications. The soil sampling and plant growth measurements were carried out for two months, ie., during initial and final stages. The present study has been carried out to study the impact of various vermiproduct such as vemicompost, vermiwash and mixture of vermicompost and vermiwash on soil physico-chemical properties during the pot culture studies of samba rice. The physical properties such as the pH, electrical conductivity (EC), porosity, moisture content, water holding capacity and chemical properties like nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium and magnesium were found distinctly enhanced in vermicompost treated soil, where as the corresponding physico-chemical values in control were minimum. The soil treated with vermicompost had significantly more electrical conductivity in comparison to unamended pots. The addition of vermicompost in soil resulted in decrease of soil pH. The physical properties such as water holding capacity, moisture content and porosity in soil amended with vermicompost were improved.  The vermiproduct treated plants exhibit faster and higher growth rate and productivity than the control plants.  Among the treated group, the growth rate was high in the mixture of vermicompost and vermiwash treated plants, than the vermicompost and vermiwash un-treated plants. The maximum range of some plant parameter's like number of leaves, leaf length, height of the plants and root length of plant, were recorded in the mixture of vermicompost and vermiwash. The results of this experiment revealed that addition of vemicompost had significant positive effects on the soil physical, chemical properties and plant growth parameters

Synthesis of Co and Cu codoped ZnO nanoparticles by citrate gel combustion method: Photocatalytic and antimicrobial activity

ZnO, single-doped (Co-ZnO, Cu-ZnO), and co-doped ZnO ((Co, Cu)/ZnO) were effectively synthesized by the citrate gel combustion technique. The samples were characterized by UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis-DRS), Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). The average particle size was 30.33 nm as calculated from XRD patterns for (Co, Cu)/ZnO. UV-Vis absorption spectrum indicates that the co-doped ZnO exhibits increased visible light absorption compared to the undoped one.  The photoluminescence spectroscopy shows that the separation efficiency of photo-induced electrons and hole is enhanced by the co-doping strategy. (Co, Cu)/ZnO nanoparticles demonstrated a strong visible light response and high photocatalytic activity for Rhodamine B (RhB) degradation under irradiation by visible light (400-500 nm). The visible-light photocatalytic activity of the prepared  (Co, Cu)/ZnO may come about because of the incorporation of Co, Cu atoms in ZnO, photo-induced electron-hole pairs and extended the spectral response to the visible region. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of ZnO, Co-ZnO, Cu-ZnO, and (Co, Cu)/ZnO were studied respectively with Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive), Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) ( bacterial strain) and  Aspergillus flavus, Candida albicans (fungal strain). The (Co, Cu)/ZnO enhanced the antimicrobial activity

An experimental insight of friction stir welding of dissimilar AA 6061/Mg AZ 31 B joints

In the present scenario, aerospace and automobile industries depend on lightweight materials such as magnesium and aluminum alloys because of their great balance between mechanical properties and weight ratio. Despite these benefits during the joining process of these dissimilar materials by welding, many challenges arises. The prominent one is related to the low melting points of these lightweight metals which make it almost impossible the joining using conventional arc welding techniques. To tackle this challenge, Friction Stir Welding (FSW) can be considered as a promising candidate tool. In this study, to demonstrate the FSW performances of joining two dissimilar materials we have investigated the joining of AA 6061 and Mg AZ 31 B using a built-in house a modified milling machine. The dissimilar combinations of AA 6061 and Mg AZ 31 B joints were successfully joined by embedding different welding conditions and varying the offset distance. The mechanical performances were evaluated by conducting specific mechanical tests such as micro-hardness, tensile, and impact tests, respectively. To explain the mechanical results, we have applied optical microscopy observation on the microstructure associated with the bonding location. The results prove that the strength of the Friction Stir Welded joints is much higher as compared to other techniques especially in terms of dissimilar metals

Studies on novel o-hydroxyacetophenone substituted triazine based ligand and its metal complexes

A novel design of triazine based ligand with o-hydroxyacetophenonenucleus (L) has been synthesized. A series of metal(II) complexes of general formula [ML.H2O][where M = Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II) and Zn(II)] have been obtained.UV-Visible, magnetic susceptibility, Infrared, 1H NMR, Mass and electron spin resonance (ESR) techniques have been used to elucidate the structures of metal complexes. Spectroscopy and other data show octahedral geometry for metal(II) complexes. The fluorescence spectra of all the complexes revealed the photoactive nature of the complexes. The ligand was found to exhibit better second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency compared to that of urea and KDP. The ligand and its metal complexes were screened for their antibacterial and antifungal activities. This study revealed the increased antimicrobial activity exhibited by the  than the ligand

Synthesis and characterization of copper(II), nickel(II), cobalt(II) and zinc(II) complexes of 3-(1-hydroxy-2-naphthyl)-5-(4-x-phenyl)pyrazolines

666-669Metal complexes of the type ML2nB, [M= Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Zn(I1); L= 3-(I-hydroxy-2-naphthyl)-5-(4-X-phenyl) pyrazoline (HONXPP); X = H, Me, MeO; B = H2O, Py; n=0, 2] have been synthesized through different routes and characterized on the basis of analysis, infrared, ligand field and 1H NMR spectra and magnetic susceptibility measurements. IR and 1H NMR data indicate that the ligands act as bidentate, coordinating through the oxygen of phenolic group and tertiary nitrogen of pyrazoline ring. All the copper(II) and nickel(II) complexes are obtained in the anhydrous from with square-planer configuration whereas cobalt(II) and nicke(II) complexes are isolated as diaquates and dipyridinates with high-spin octahedral geometry. The corresponding anhydrous nickel(II) complexes are diamagnetic with square-planer structure, whereas and anhydrous cobalt(II) complexes are polymeric with cobalt in an  octahedral environment. Enhanced π-bonding between nickel and C = N in the square complexes increases the LFSE

Synthesis and characterisation of copper(II), nickel(II) and cobalt (II) complexes of 3-(2-hydroxypheny)-5- (4-X-phenyl)pyrazolines

722-723Complexes of 3-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-5-(4-X-phenyl)pyrazolines (X = H, Me, MeO) with copper(II), nickel(II) and Cobalt(II) have been synthesized and characterized . The IR spectra indicate coordination through phenolic oxygen and azomethine nitrogen of pyrazoline ring. The copper(II), nickel(II) and cobalt(II) complexes have magnetic moments and ligand field bands characteristic of low- spin square- planar configuration. The strong field nature of the ligand, in contrast to the weak field nature of 3-(1- hydroxy2- naphthyl)-5-(4-X-phenyl)pyrazolines, has been ascribed to dπ-pπ back bonding

Antimicrobial effects of probiotic bacteria against selected species of yeasts and moulds in cheese-based dips

The antimicrobial properties of selected probiotic bacteria against Aspergillus niger, Penicillium roqueforti, Fusarium spp., Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were examined. Well diffusion and spot and streak methods showed strong inhibition effect of probiotic bacteria and their metabolites against moulds and minimal effect against yeasts. Among the moulds species tested, the inhibitory effect was strongest against Fusarium spp., moderate against Penicillium roqueforti and minimal against A. niger. All strains of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and L. paracasei subsp. paracasei showed maximum inhibitory effect. When probiotic bacteria and yeasts and moulds were co-cultured in broth media, strains of L. rhamnosus showed maximum inhibitory effect, whereas L. paracasei subsp. paracasei, L. acidophilus, Bifidobacterium animalis and Propionibacterium showed moderate inhibitory effect against C. albicans. Saccharomyces cerevisiae was minimally controlled by probiotic bacteria. Pre-grown probiotic bacterial culture metabolites controlled yeasts and moulds more effectively than their freeze-dried or frozen forms. Adding metabolites of probiotic bacteria (5% w/w) showed an effective control against A. niger, Fusarium spp. and C. albicans during the shelf life of 10 weeks at 4 �C and no colonies of yeasts and moulds were formed on the surface of the dip