Effect of elevated ozone and carbon dioxide interaction on growth and yield of maize

The effect of elevated tropospheric ozone and carbon dioxide interaction were evaluated on the growth and pro¬ductivity of high quality protein maize (HQPM-1) at the research farm of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. Maize plants were exposed from emergence to maturity for two years to different ozone levels in non fil¬ter air (NF), charcoal filter air (CF), non-filter air with elevated CO2 (NF+CO2), elevated ozone (EO and EO1), elevated ozone with elevated CO2 (EO+CO2) and ambient control (AC) in open top chambers. Elevated ozone significantly decreased growth attributes of leaf and shoot biomass and leaf area index and the yield attributes. Highest values of all the growth and yield attributes were observed in CF treatment. The photosynthetic rate decreased by 24 to 37% and from 41 to 56% under EO (ambient + 25-35 ppb O3) over NF at tasseling and silking stage respectively. The yield increased by 21 to 31% in the sub ambient ozone levels in the CF treatment over non-filtered control whereas it decreased by 13 and 20 % under EO in both the years respectively. The presence of higher levels of ozone EO1 (ambient + 45-50 ppb O3) however made the plant weak and more susceptible to pest attack, result¬ing in a complete loss in yield. The presence of elevated carbon dioxide along with elevated ozone in the EO+CO2 treatment increased the yield by 9 to 10% over EO alone. Elevated CO2 was able to counter the negative effect of O3 on growth and yield parameters of maize to a certain extent

The impact of different fertiliser management options and cultivars on nitrogen use efficiency and yield for rice cropping in the Indo-Gangetic Plain: two seasons of methane, nitrous oxide and ammonia emissions

This study presents detailed crop and gas flux data from two years of rice production at the experimental farm of the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India. In comparing 4 nitrogen (N) fertiliser regimes across 4 rice cultivars (CRD 310, IR-64, MTU 1010, P-44), we have added to growing evidence of the environmental costs of rice production in the region. The study shows that rice cultivar can impact yields of both grain, and total biomass produced in given circumstances, with the CRD 310 cultivar showing consistently high nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) for total biomass compared with other tested varieties, but not necessarily with the highest grain yield, which was P-44 in this experiment. While NUE of the rice did vary depending on experimental treatments (ranging from 41% to 73%), 73%), this did not translate directly into the reduction of emissions of ammonia (NH3) and nitrous oxide (N2O). Emissions were relatively similar across the different rice cultivars regardless of NUE. Conversely, agronomic practices that reduced total N losses were associated with higher yield. In terms of fertiliser application, the outstanding impact was of the very high methane (CH4) emissions as a result of incorporating farmyard manure (FYM) into rice paddies, which dominated the overall effect on global warming potential. While the use of nitrification and urease inhibiting substances decreased N2O emissions overall, NH3 emissions were relatively unaffected (or slightly higher). Overall, the greatest reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions came from reducing irrigation water added to the fields, resulting in higher N2O, but significantly less CH4 emissions, reducing net GHG emission compared with continuous flooding. Overall, genetic differences generated more variation in yield and NUE than agronomic management (excluding controls), whereas agronomy generated larger differences than genetics concerning gaseous losses. This study suggests that a mixed approach needs to be applied when attempting to reduce pollution and global warming potential from rice production and potential pollution swapping and synergies need to be considered. Finding the right balance of rice cultivar, irrigation technique and fertiliser type could significantly reduce emissions, while getting it wrong can result in considerably poorer yields and higher pollution

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Not AvailableEffectiveness of bio-formulated products of bio-agents Trichoderma harzianum, Bacillus firmus and consortium of both as seed treatment were demonstrated at farmer’s field against dry root rot of guar, moth bean, mung bean and sesame caused by Macrophomina phaseolina during rainy seasons of 2007–2016. The efficacy of T. harzianum was also demonstrated against wilt of cumin caused by Fusarium oxysporum f sp. cumini. Studies revealed that seed treatment with bio-agents significantly reduced incidence of dry root rot on legumes (4.7%), oilseeds (21.6%) and that of wilt on cumin (22.6%) in all the demonstrations resulting in significant increase in seed yield. Maximum yield promotion (14.9–19.0%) due to seed treatment was recorded in sesame during both the years at villages of Pali district. Similarly, significant reduction in wilt incidence and thereby increased seed yield (14.5–23.1%) was recorded in cumin at both the districts of Rajasthan. Consortium of both the bio-agents also increased seed yield by 22.9% in guar at Jodhpur. These demonstrations have resulted in wider acceptance by rain-fed farmers and more by cumin growers under irrigated conditions.Not Availabl

Near-Room-Temperature Ethanol Detection Using Ag-Loaded Mesoporous Carbon Nitrides

Development of room-temperature gas sensors is a much sought-after aspect that has fostered research in realizing new two-dimensional materials with high surface area for rapid response and low-ppm detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Herein, a fast-response and low-ppm ethanol gas sensor operating at near room temperature has been fabricated successfully by utilizing cubic mesoporous graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN, commonly known as g-C₃N₄), synthesized through template inversion of mesoporous silica, KIT-6. Upon exposure to 50 ppm ethanol at 250 °C, the optimized Ag/g-CN showed a significantly higher response (<i>R</i>_a/<i>R</i>_g = 49.2), fast response (11.5 s), and full recovery within 7 s in air. Results of sensing tests conducted at 40 °C show that the sensor exhibits not only a highly selective response to 50 ppm (<i>R</i>_a/<i>R</i>_g = 1.3) and 100 ppm (<i>R</i>_a/<i>R</i>_g = 3.2) of ethanol gas but also highly reversible and rapid response and recovery along with long-term stability. This outstanding response is due to its easily accessible three-dimensional mesoporous structure with higher surface area and unique planar morphology of Ag/g-CN. This study could provide new avenues for the design of next-generation room-temperature VOC sensors for effective and efficient monitoring of alarming concern over indoor environment

Dark liver on MRI: throwing light on clinically unsuspected hemochromatosis in double heterozygote HbE-beta thalassemia

Secondary hemochromatosis is a well-known complication in thalassemic patients under regular blood transfusions and can be diagnosed based on clinical suspicion and biochemical tests in this setting. However, double heterozygote HbE-beta thalassemic is an uncommon form of thalassemia where the clinical course is highly variable and iron deposition in liver, endocrine glands and myocardium similar to primary hemochromatosis can occur in non-transfused patients. We report the MRI diagnosis of erythropoietic hemochromatosis involving liver and adrenal gland in one such rare case presenting in adulthood with severe anemia. [Int J Res Med Sci 2016; 4(8.000): 3632-3635

Dark liver on MRI: throwing light on clinically unsuspected hemochromatosis in double heterozygote HbE-beta thalassemia

Secondary hemochromatosis is a well-known complication in thalassemic patients under regular blood transfusions and can be diagnosed based on clinical suspicion and biochemical tests in this setting. However, double heterozygote HbE-β thalassemic is an uncommon form of thalassemia where the clinical course is highly variable and iron deposition in liver, endocrine glands and myocardium similar to primary hemochromatosis can occur in non-transfused patients. We report the MRI diagnosis of erythropoietic hemochromatosis involving liver and adrenal gland in one such rare case presenting in adulthood with severe anemia

Net Ecosystem Exchange of Carbon Dioxide in Rice-Spring Wheat System of Northwestern Indo-Gangetic Plains

Rice growing under anaerobic conditions followed by spring wheat under an aerobic environment differentially impact the net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of carbon dioxide (CO2) in rice-wheat systems of the north-western Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP). This is the first estimation of the NEE in a rice-spring wheat sequence via the eddy covariance technique in the north-western Indo-Gangetic Plains, which was partitioned into gross primary productivity (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (RE) and correlated with the environmental variables. Higher CO2 uptake of −10.43 g C m−2 d−1 was observed in wheat during heading as compared to −7.12 g C m−2 d−1 in rice. The net uptake of CO2 was 25% lower in rice. The average daily NEE over the crop season was −3.74 and −5.01 g C m−2 d−1 in rice and wheat, respectively. The RE varied from 0.07–9.00 g C m−2 d−1 in rice and from 0.05–7.09 g C m−2 d−1 in wheat. The RE was positively correlated with soil temperature at 5 cm depth (0.543, p &lt; 0.01) in rice and with air temperature (0.294, p &lt; 0.01) in wheat. The GPP was positively correlated with air temperature (0.129, p &lt; 0.05) and negatively correlated with vapor pressure deficit (VPD) (−0.315, p &lt; 0.01) in rice. In wheat, GPP was positively correlated with air temperature (0.444, p &lt; 0.01) and soil moisture (0.471, p &lt; 0.01). The rate of GPP over the crop duration was nearly the same in both rice and wheat, however, the RE was higher in rice as compared to wheat, thus, the ratio of cumulative RE/GPP was 0.51 in rice and much lower at 0.34 in spring wheat. Rice contributed 46% and 43% to the annual totals of RE and GPP, respectively, while spring wheat contributed 36% and 51%. The NEE of CO2 was higher in spring wheat at −576 g C m−2 d−1 as compared to −368 g C m−2 in rice. Thus, while estimating the carbon sink potential in the intensively cultivated northern IGP, we need to consider that spring wheat may be a moderately stronger sink of CO2 as compared to rice in the rice-wheat system