Indigenous techniques of catching the mud eel, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Monopterus cuchia</i> (Ham.) in Goalpara district, Assam

109-115Fishing techniques for catching the mud eel, Monopterus cuchia (Ham.) in Goalpara district, Assam was investigated during 2007-10 during the course of a base line survey conducted by the KVK Goalpara, Assam. The complexities of its habitat, behavior and life history characteristics, makes it difficult to catch the fish. Documentation on the fishing methods for catching the mud eel is scanty. This paper is an attempt to record the different technique employed traditionally by the ethnic communities of the district to catch the mud eel based on the information collected during the course of survey. The results revealed use of different wounding gears, ichthyotoxic plants, handline and traps. Wounding gears included spear, knives and sickle. Among plants, Derris elliptica (Wall.) Benth. and Milletia pachycarpa Benth. were used. Spindle shaped and cubical traps are commonly used by the common folks. Other method includes bunding and digging, and light fishing

Scholars Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences Rice Field Sumps: Indigenous Technology for Catching Fish in Rice Field

Abstract: Catching fish in rice field is an age old traditional practice in Asian countries. In Assam farmers have a unique technique of catching fish in the rice field without disturbing the rice. Almost all farmers have sump in their rice field. An investigation was conducted in Goalpara district of Assam for exploring the technique. A total of 80 rice farmers of 16 villages of 8 rural development blocks were interviewed using a structured and validated questionnaire. Nine independent variables and seven critical dependent variables were selected for designing the questionnaire. The study revealed that all the farmer still use the technique for catching fish in the rice field. They use Kapau Dhekia (Lygodium flexuosum) and Saora tree (Lygodium flexuosum) as fish attractant. The study suggest that blending of this ITK with newly generated integrated rice fish farming shall help achieving the goal of sustainable agriculture along with food and nutritional security

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Not AvailableBiochar application to soil has been projected as an approach to improve soil quality, which can also infuence soil microbial activities. In this experiment, we have utilized four dissimilar feedstocks derived biochar amendments. The highest microbial biomass carbon was found in Lantana camara (LC) biochar followed by pine needle (PN), maize stalk (MS) and lowest in black gram (BG) biochar. The dehydrogenase activity in diferent biochar treatment increased signifcantly along with control with increase in incubation days except pine biochar where dehydrogenase decreased. Biochar application in soil increased acid phosphatase compared to control. The highest alkaline phosphatase was found in MS and it was 20.56, 31.27, 42.52, 57.62 and 69.56 at 1, 7, 30, 60 and 90 days of incubation, respectively. The highest urease was found in LC followed by BG, MS and lowest in PN among the biochar at both the biochar application rate. The biochar application augmented the protease enzyme activity in soil, which might be due to augmenting the accessibility of inorganic nitrogen. The highest fuorescein diacetate was found in LC and it was 10.12, 17.62, 24.62, 32.86 and 37.56 at 1, 7, 30, 60 and 90 days of incubation, respectively. The increased biological indicator was more at 2.5 t/ha biochar application rate than 5.0 t/ha i.e. lower concentration of biochar enhanced more than higher concentration. This laboratory study demonstrated that biochar application can proft incubated acid soils by improving microbial biomass carbon up-lift while increasing potential soil enzyme activityNot Availabl