Temperature-dependent Dielectric Properties of Adulterated Honey – A Quality Assessment Measure for Fraud Detection

209-217Honey has become a main target of adulteration due to its important nutrient commodity of high price and in short supply. It can include illegal adulteration as well as overheating by adding water and sugar syrups. For this purpose, the dielectric assessment kit (DAK) which offers measurements of high precision dielectric attributes such as dielectric permittivity, penetration depth, conductivity and loss tangent over a wide frequency range has been used. Dielectric parameters of pure yellow standard honey (A) and their adulterated samples with moisture levels from 17.5 % to 31.2 % were measured with coaxial-line probe from 600 to 6000 MHz at 25–55 ℃. Influence of water content and temperature on dielectric properties (dielectric constant, loss tangent, electrical conductivity and penetration depth) of various honey brands B, C and D were also investigated. Temperature and moisture content have a substantial impact on honey's dielectric properties over the complete frequency range. It was observed that the dielectric constant and dielectric conductivity of honey brand named C were related to that of the pure honey sample A, although the values for various parameters of C and D were drastically different from A. Results show that the 915 MHz frequency is more appropriate for microwave heating of honey than the 2450 MHz frequency due to its deeper penetration depth. Finally overheating and water content of honey directly affects its dielectric parameters and their measurements can be used in quality assessment for degraded honey detection

Lawson criterion for ignition exceeded in an inertial fusion experiment

For more than half a century, researchers around the world have been engaged in attempts to achieve fusion ignition as a proof of principle of various fusion concepts. Following the Lawson criterion, an ignited plasma is one where the fusion heating power is high enough to overcome all the physical processes that cool the fusion plasma, creating a positive thermodynamic feedback loop with rapidly increasing temperature. In inertially confined fusion, ignition is a state where the fusion plasma can begin "burn propagation" into surrounding cold fuel, enabling the possibility of high energy gain. While "scientific breakeven" (i.e., unity target gain) has not yet been achieved (here target gain is 0.72, 1.37 MJ of fusion for 1.92 MJ of laser energy), this Letter reports the first controlled fusion experiment, using laser indirect drive, on the National Ignition Facility to produce capsule gain (here 5.8) and reach ignition by nine different formulations of the Lawson criterion

Not Available

Not AvailableWorld population is projected to reach over nine billion by the year 2050, and ensuring fiber security while mitigating environmental impacts represent a major agricultural challenge. Conventional cotton (Gossypium sp) production technologies had significant effects on the environment and farm profitability in the past. New era transgenic or Bt cotton production technology can be used to simultaneously reduce the environmental footprint and enhance the profitability of cotton production. Information on these two sustainability aspects of transgenic cotton is missing in the scientific literature. Here, we review the potential advantages of insect tolerance Bt insect resistant technology used in hybrid cotton by comparing with the major cereal based rotations in India. Our results suggested that by using this technology, there was significant reduction in pesticide use roughly by 40%, and yield advantages of 30-40%. These resulted in saving on fossil fuels and decreasing CO emissions– which are major bonus for climate change mitigation. During the last decade, significant increase in cotton area and production in India is attributed to better returns realized by the farmers, which were largely due to better management practices followed to grow transgenic cotton. Most of the studies conducted in India, concluded that Bt-cotton is more efficient in input use and had a lower environmental impact quotient, which indicates less damage to the environment than non-Bt-cotton. However, Btcotton based cropping systems have less profitability and energy efficiency in comparison to the major cereal based rotations in India due to lesser productivity potential of cotton crop particularly in rain-fed ecosystems. This was mainly attributed to the lesser dissemination of proven energy-efficient research technologies to the farmer’s fields. Although, Bt-cotton can contribute to a “sustainable intensification” strategy favoured by many science academies worldwide, which allows productivity/production to be increased in the current crop land, thereby saving forests and biodiversity.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableAn on-farm trial was conducted at five farmer fields of Bageshwar district of Uttrakhand to validate, refine and popularize the technology developed by VPKAS, Almora for managing Buttercup (Ranunculus spp) during 2007–10. The aim of the study was to find out the effectiveness of 2,4-D @ 1.0 kg ai/ha, isoproturon @ 1.0 kg ai/ha and tank mix application of 2,4-D @ 0.5 kg ai/ha with isoproturon @ 1.0 kg ai/ha over farmers practice of hand weeding twice at 30 and 60 DAS and unweeded control on the infestation of weeds and profitability of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori and Paol.). Tank mix application of 2, 4-D+isoproturon (0.50+1.0 kg/ha) at 35-40 DAS reduced the density and dry weight of Ranunculus and other weeds and nutrient uptake by weeds (3.9 kg N, 0.9 kg P and 6.2 kg K/ha) compared to farmers practice. This combination also resulted in 12.5% higher grain yield, nutrients by wheat (73.5 kg N, 11.6 kg P and 60.0 kg K/ha) and net returns (` 19 030/ha) With this technology, drudgery reduction of about 475-man days/ha can be made possible, which could be used in other fruitful activities of hilly farmers, particularly women.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableA better understanding of the fate of nutrients in transgenic cotton (Gossypiumhirsutum L.) fields will improve nutrient efficiencies, will optimize crop growth and development, and may help to enhance soil quality. A study was made to evaluate and quantify the effect of cropping system [sole cotton and groundnut (Arachishypogaea) intercropping with transgenic cotton] and nitrogen (N) management [control (0N), 100% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) through urea, substitution of 25% RDN through farmyard manure (FYM), and substitution of 50% RDN through FYM] on dry matter (DM) and nutrient partitioning and accumulation by transgenic cotton and groundnut at New Delhi during 2006–2007. Soil and plant samples were collected and analyzed at 60, 90, and 120 days after sowing and at harvest. Results revealed that intercropping of groundnut with cotton did not significantly affect DM and nutrient partitioning in cotton, but residual soil fertility in terms of potassium permanganate (KMnO4) N showed an improvement in contrast to Olsen’s P and ammonium acetate (NH4OAc)–exchangeable K over sole cotton. At harvest, of total DMassimilated, leaves constituted 10–20%, stem 50%, and reproductive parts of cotton accounted for the rest. For each kilogram of seed cotton produced, the crop assimilated 61 g of N, of which 23 g was partitioned to harvested seed cotton. Substitution of 25% RDN through FYM, being on par with 100% RDN through urea, recorded greater DM, nutrient uptake in different parts of cotton, agronomic N-use efficiency (9.5 kg seed cotton kg N–1), and apparent N recovery (83.3%) over 50% RDN substitution through FYM and control. The control, being on par with 50% RDN substitution through FYM, recorded significantly greater DM and nutrient uptake by intercropped groundnut over other treatments. Apparent N and potassium (K) balance at the end of study was negative in all treatments; however, the actual change in KMnO4 N was positive in all the treatments except control. Our study suggests that intercropping of groundnut with transgenic cotton and substitution of 25% dose of N through FYM is sustainable in tropical countries.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableTechnological dissemination and development strategies should focus on the specific package of practices for different situations and intensive extension strategies. Therefore, present study was undertaken to analyze the skill gap of recommended production technology of wheat crop in hilly areas. The maximum gap was found in the area of improved variety, seed treatment and water management on wheat crop. For maximizing the wheat production, training programmes for the farmers and group action for the villages should be introduced. Scattered land holding (2.37), small land holding (2.17), and lack of irrigation facilities, (2.05) were three top most production constraints in Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableTwo of the most pressing sustainability issues are the depletion of fossil energy resources and the emission of atmospheric green house gases like carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. The aim of this study was to assess energy budgeting and carbon footprint in transgenic cotton–wheat cropping system through peanut intercropping with using 25–50 % substitution of recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) of cotton through farmyard manure (FYM) along with 100 % RDN through urea and control (0 N). To quantify the residual effects of previous crops and their fertility levels, a succeeding crop of wheat was grown with varying ratesof nitrogen, viz. 0, 50, 100, and 150 kg ha-1. Cotton+ peanut–wheat cropping system recorded 21 % higher system productivity which ultimately helped to maintain higher net energy return (22 %), energy use efficiency (12 %), human energy profitability (3 %), energy productivity (7 %), carbon outputs (20 %), carbon efficien- cy (17 %), and 11 % lower carbon footprint over sole cotton–wheat cropping system. Peanut addition in cotton–wheat system increased the share of renewable energy inputs from 18 to 21 %. With substitution of 25 % RDN of cotton through FYM, share of renewable energy resources increased in the range of 21 % which resulted into higher system productivity (4 %), net energy return (5 %), energy ratio (6 %), human energy profitability (74 %), energy productivity (6 %), energy profitability (5 %), and 5 % lower carbon footprint over no substitution. The highest carbon footprint (0.201) was recorded under control followed by 50 % substitution of RDN through FYM (0.189). With each successive increase in N dose up to 150 kg N ha-1to wheat, energy productivity significantly reduced and share of renewable energy inputs decreased from 25 to 13 %. Application of 100 kg N ha-1to wheat maintained the highest grain yield (3.71 t ha-1), net energy return (105,516 MJ ha-1), and human energy profitability (223.4) over other N doses applied to wheat. Application of 50 kg N ha-1to wheat maintained the least carbon footprint (0.091) followed by 100 kg N ha (0.100). Our study indicates that system productivity as well as energy and carbon use efficiencies of trans- genic cotton–wheat production system can be enhanced by inclusion of peanut as an intercrop in cotton and substitution of 25 % RDN of cotton through FYM, as well as application of 100 kg N ha-1to succeeding wheat crop.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableThe present study was conducted in Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand in the year of 2010-11. Out of three blocks (Bageshwar, Garur and Kapkot) only Bageshwar block was purposely selected. In this block 10 villages were randomly selected, from these villages 6 vegetables growers were selected from each village by simple random sampling method. Thus the total numbers of 60 vegetables growers were selected. Average productivity of vegetables crop in Uttarakhand is very low (97.32 q. /ha.) and far from the national average yield of 154.6 q. ha-1. It is mainly because of poor knowledge as well as adoption of scientific technologies of vegetable cultivation. A wide gap exists between the yields obtained and the potential yields. By adopting improved varieties and technologies, the production and productivity can be increased. Promotion of hybrid vegetable technology or improved varieties is major strategy for increasing productivity. The major constraints could be detected to vegetable production technology like lack of knowledge about improved variety, seed rate and sowing time (88.33%), lack of knowledge of IPM technologies (85.0%), unavailability of improved seeds of vegetables(83.33%), lack of irrigation facilities (80.0%), non-remunerative price (78.33%), lack of training of scientific vegetable production technology (75.0%), and lack of subsidy (75.0%).Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableCotton–wheat is the second most important cropping system after rice–wheat in Indiaand Pakistan, and is practiced on about 4.02 mha. By 2010, more than 6 million Indian farmers had adopted transgenic Bt cotton on 9.4 mha—almost 90% of thecountry’s total cotton area. There is a paucity of information on the effects of intercroppingand integrated nitrogen (N)–management practices in transgenic Bt cottonon productivity, nutrient availability, and soil biological properties in the succeedingwheat crop in a cotton–wheat system. A study was made to evaluate and quantifythe residual effect of two-tiered intercropping of cotton and groundnut with substitutionof 25–50% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) of cotton by farmyard manure(FYM) on productivity and soil fertility in a cotton–wheat system at New Delhi during2006–2008. Wheat following groundnut-intercropped cotton receiving 50% RDNsubstitution through FYM had significantly 5% greater grain yield than that after sole cotton. Residual soil fertility in terms of organic carbon (C), potassium permanganate(KMnO4)-N, and dehydrogenase activity (14%) showed an improvement under cotton+groundnut–wheat system with substitution of 50% RDN of cotton by FYM. Apparent Nbalance as well as actual change in KMnO4-N at wheat harvest was negative in most ofthe treatments, with greater loss (–58.1) noticed under pure stand of the cotton–wheatsystem with 100% RDN of cotton through urea. The study suggested that inclusionof legume and organic manure in transgenic Bt-cotton–wheat system is a sustainablepractice for combating escalating prices of N fertilizers with environmental issues and instability of transgenic hybrids in south Asian countries.Not Availabl