Soil fertility in flooded and non-flooded irrigated rice systems

The lowland rice system in Asia makes a major contribution to the global rice supply and is often cited as an example of a sustainable system in which two or three crops of rice are grown in sequence under submerged conditions. However, water shortages are becoming critical in some regions for lowland rice cultivation; and there is high potential in exploring rice cultivation under moisture regimes that save water and also increase productivity. The objective of this article therefore is to analyze the consequences of switching growing of rice from flooded to aerobic conditions on soil fertility and its management. Fertility advantages of submerged rice include amelioration of chemical fertility, preferential accumulation of organic matter and improved availability of major, secondary and selected micronutrients, which contribute to the long-term maintenance of soil fertility and sustainability of the lowland rice system. However, the fertility problems under aerobic rice are better addressed with the crop as a component of a cropping system because continuous growing of aerobic rice in sequence does not seem sustainable due to complex, site-specific chemical and biological constraints

ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS - CONTRACEPTIVE PRACTICES AND AWARENESS OF EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION IN EDUCATED WORKING WOMEN

Background: Regular contraceptive use and emergency contraception are tools to prevent pregnancies. Aims: This study was designed to investigate knowledge and use of contraceptive methods and awareness of emergency contraception among women working in the hospital. Settings: Educated workingwomen in a medical college hospital. Design: Cross-sectional study. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out among women belonging to three categories: staff nurses, ministerial staff and others. Married as well as unmarried employees in the reproductive age group were interviewed. A pretested mixed questionnaire containing open as well as closed ended questions was administered. The women were asked questions concerning knowledge and use of contraceptive methods and awareness of emergency or postcoital contraception. Results: Of the 284 employees 258 women consented for the interview. All the subjects were literate and majority (97.2%) had an urban background. Of the 190 married women, 154 (81.1%) practiced contraception, among them (73.3%) were regular users. Eighty respondents underwent abortions of which 46 had spontaneous and 34 had induced abortions. Among the available contraceptive methods, condom was the most popular method in 89 (57.8%) followed by Copper T in 38 women (24.7%). The use of hormonal contraception was very low 2.6%. Print and electronic media were the common source of public awareness in 149 subjects (57.7%). Twenty-nine women (11.2%) were aware and only three women used emergency contraception. Conclusions: A high percentage of females in this literate workingwomen population used contraception; however, the awareness of emergency contraception was low

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Not AvailableIn field experiments with soybean-wheat cropping system conducted during 1992–93 and 1993–94 on a Typic Haplustert, soybean seed yield increased significantly with FYM application up to 4 t ha−1 in 1992 and 16 t ha−1 in 1993. Fertilizer P up to 44 kg ha−1 also progressively improved soybean yield in both the years. Conjoint use of 16 t FYM + 44 kg P ha−1 gave the highest soybean yield. The yield of following wheat crop in both the years increased significantly under the treatment in which the previous crop of soybean received FYM up to 16 t ha−1 and of fertilizer P up to 44 kg ha−1. Integrated use of 16 t FYM (to soybean) + 44kg P ha−1 (to both soybean and wheat) produced the maximum wheat grain yield. Phosphorus uptake by soybean and wheat and available P in the post-harvest soil increased significantly with increasing rates of both FYM and fertilizer P. Averaged over two years, apparent phosphorus recovery (APR) by soybean-wheat system from fertilizer-P ranged from 24.9 to 15.1%, the lower APR being at higher P levels. With FYM applied at 4, 8 and 16 t ha−1, crops recovered about 96, 66 and 45% of manure-P (5.5, 11.0 and 22 kg P ha−1), respectively. In combination with FYM, fertilizer P recovery was greater at all P rates as compared to those with no manureNot Availabl