An incubation experiment was conducted to monitor the effect of different organic matter inputs with the graded application of gypsum at different time intervals on soil pH, sodium (Na) content and ...available plant nutrients like nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S) in alkaline soil. The experiment was formulated with nine treatments, i.e. control (T1), recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) (T2), RDF+Gyp1 (T3), RDF+FYM5+Gyp2 (T4), RDF+FYM10+Gyp1 (T5), RDF+PM5+Gyp2 (T6), RDF+PM10+Gyp1 (T7), RDF+FYM2.5+PM2.5+Gyp2 (T8), RDF+FYM5+PM5+Gyp1 (T9) with three replications. Periodical soil samples were taken at six and twelve months intervals. Results showed that the addition of organic matter reduced the pH and Na content in the soil. More reduction was observed at one year period as compared to six months. The addition of farmyard manure (FYM) and pressmud (PM) at 10 t/ha with gypsum (1 t/ha) improved available N and available S content as compared to organic inputs (5 t/ha) with gypsum (2 t/ha) in soil. Pressmud application with FYM showed better availability of plant nutrients and a reduction of soil pH (8.39 to 7.79) and Na content from 626 to 391 mEq/L in the soil during the incubation period. During the study, the application of treatment T9 (FYM and PM in equal ratio with 1 t/ha gypsum) showed a better availability of available N (175 to 235 kg/ha) and S (15.44 to 23.24 kg/ha) and reduced the active ion concentration of Na. This study is very useful for the management of sodium toxicity, improving soil health and the mineralization rate of organic matter through the application of organic inputs for sustainable crop production.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
•Salt-induced soil degradation is a serious threat to global agro-ecosystems.•Application of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) improves soil sustainability and fertility.•MSW improves nutrient cycling ...enzyme activity in salt affected soils.•MSW have potential in reducing reliance on fertilizers and increasing crop yield.
Salt-induced soil degradation is a serious threat to global agriculture which is responsible for diminished productivity of agro-ecosystems. Irrigation with poor quality water and indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers to increase crop productivity creates salt accumulation in soil profile thereby reducing crop sustainability. High concentration of salts in soil inhibits plant growth due to low osmotic potential of the soil solution, ion toxicity and imbalance reduces nutrient uptake, crop yields. Low productivity of saline soils is not only due to salt toxicity or excess amounts of soluble salts but also lack of available mineral nutrients especially nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and soil organic matter. Hence, sustainable management of salt-affected soils are paramount importance to meet the demands of food grain production for an ever-rising population in the world. Recently, municipal solid waste has gained importance as an organic amendment for restoring soil fertility and finally contributing to productivity of salt-affected soils. This paper compares extant waste generation, their properties and standards pertinent to municipal solid waste in different countries and explores the unique recent history in some countries that shows high environmental regard and rapid changes and also suggests policy experiencing from high environmental regard and rapid changes from other countries, so that policy makers can propose new or revise current municipal solid waste standards for salt affected soils. Municipal solid waste compost improves soil biological, physical and chemical properties because of high soil organic matter and lower concentration of pollutants. Therefore, the use of municipal solid waste in salt-affected soils could be an alternative to costly chemical amendments as well as reduce the reliance on chemical fertilizers for increasing productivity of salt-affected soil. The municipal solid wastes significantly improve crop yields. However, further long-term experimental investigations are needed to re-validate the application of municipal solid waste compost in improving physical, chemical and biological properties and to step up organic fertilization use in a wide range of both saline and sodic soils. In future, research should be directed to address these issues globally to minimise ecological disturbances and to set environmental standards, and evaluate the feasibility of the policies in different countries and their impact on socio-economic conditions of local people.
•Developing maturity indicators for sulphur enriched municipal solid waste compost.•Organic sulphur fertilizer prepared with MSW was well matured and stabilized.•Distinct variations were observed in ...sulphur fractions, NH4+-N, NO3-N and Olsen-P.•Sulphur enriched composts could be used as supplement of costly chemical fertilizers.
The aim of this study was to assess the maturity indicators of municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) enrichment with different byproduct of (sugar and fertilizer industry) sulphur (S). The concentration of total S (TS), water-soluble S (WSS), HCl extractable S and available S were significantly different in composts prepared through different byproduct of S with MSW. WSS varied from 4.6 to 5.9% of TS after 120 days of the composting period, whereas, available S varied from 14.5 − 8.6% of TS. S enriched MSW compost had lower C/N, C/S ratio and higher nitrification index as well as lower phyto-toxicity, demonstrating that composts are properly matured and stabilised. Highest compost quality index (0.97) was recorded with S1 compost. Arylsulphatase activity significantly increased with compost maturity. Results stated that all S enriched products maintained a superior amount of plant nutrients and quality indices, indicating that S enriched compost could be a possible substitute for expensive fertilizers.
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•Alloy as well as core–shell nanostructures are synthesized.•Study of catalytic degradation of 2-, 3-, 4-nitrophenols and methyl orange.•Alloy nanoparticles are found to form ...efficient nanofluid.•The radical scavenging activity is a promise in biomedical field.
This paper reports for the first time the synthesis of bimetallic nanoparticles at room temperature using the fruit juice of pomegranate. Simultaneous reduction of gold and silver ions in different molar ratios leads to the formation of alloy as well as core–shell nanostructures. The nanoparticles have been characterized using UV–vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The synthesized alloy particles are used as catalysts in the reduction of 2-, 3-, 4-nitrophenols to the corresponding amines and in the degradation of methyl orange. The reduction kinetics for all the reactions follows pseudo-first order. The rate constants follow the order k4-nitrophenol<k2-nitrophenol<k3-nitrophenol. Thermal conductivity is measured as a function of volume fraction and it is observed that the incorporation of the alloy nanoparticles enhances the thermal conductivity of the base fluid (water) showing nanofluid application. The nitric oxide and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity shown by the nanoparticles promise the potential application in biomedical field.
Coriander, fenugreek, nigella etc. are collectively known as seed spices. They are "High value and low volume crops" and considered cash crops for the growers of arid and semi-arid regions of India. ...Coriander, fenugreek and nigella are grown during the rabi season and take hardly 130-140 days to attain full maturity. In this context, farmers are not able to develop income from available arable land round the year, even though they have sufficient resources as well as manpower. Therefore, coriander, fenugreek and nigella-based cropping systems, four of each (total 12) were evaluated during 3 consecutive years (2019-20 to 2021-22) for their productivity, resource-use efficiency, economics and soil fertility. The results showed that among the seed spices-based cropping systems, maximum system productivity (5193 kg ha.sup.-1 ), production efficiency (18.81 kg ha.sup.-1 day.sup.-1 ), water-use efficiency (2.31 kg ha.sup.-1 mm.sup.-1 ), economic efficiency (11.85 US $ ha.sup.-1 day.sup.-1 ), net return (3270 US $ ha.sup.-1 ), benefit:cost ratio (3.27) and available N (165.6 kg ha.sup.-1) were observed under nigella-green coriander-mungbean cropping system. Hence, seed spices growers are recommended to adopt nigella-green coriander-mungbean cropping system in order to realize better productivity, resource-use efficiency, soil fertility and profitability.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Most science curricular reform efforts are designed by administrators or science education experts. It is less common for teachers to work collaboratively across disciplines to create, implement, and ...disseminate an integrated STEM curriculum developed for noncollege‐bound students that ended up being popular across student populations at the school. The integrated Geometry in Construction curriculum was developed 12 years ago and has since been adopted by over 425 schools across the United States. This intrinsic case study describes the experiences and perceptions of two high school teachers (one in mathematics and one in industrial science/engineering) as they achieved agency to initiate a deep and sustained reform effort. Drawing on the theory of teacher agency, the factors motivating the teachers to enact their beliefs about students and teaching are described. As a result of increased professional agency (driven by professional discontentment, willingness to take risks, and encouragement by mentors), these two teachers (a) cogenerated integrated engineering‐math curriculum with one another and their students and (b) addressed the needs of their community for affordable housing.
The availability of freshwater is limited for agriculture systems across the globe. A fast-growing population demands need to enhance the food grain production from a limited natural resources. ...Therefore, researchers and policymakers have been emphasized on the production potential of agricultural crops in a sustainable manner. On the challenging side, freshwater bodies are shrinking with the pace of time further limiting crop production. Poor-quality water may be a good alternative for fresh water in water scarce areas. It should not contain toxic pollutants beyond certain critical levels. Unfortunately, such critical limits for different pollutants as well as permissible quality parameters for different wastewater types are lacking or poorly addressed. Marginal quality water and industrial effluent used in crop production should be treated prior to application in crop field. Hence, safe reuse of wastewater for cultivation of food material is necessary to fulfil the demands of growing population across the globe in the changing scenario of climate.
In spite of efforts to increase gender diversity across many science fields, women continue to encounter beliefs that they lack ability and talent. Undergraduate education is a critical time when ...peer influence may alter choice of majors and careers for women interested in science. Even in life science courses, in which women outnumber men, gender biases that emerge in peer-to-peer interactions during coursework may detract from women's interest and progress. This is the first study of which we are aware to document that women are outperforming men in both physical and life science undergraduate courses at the same institution, while simultaneously continuing to be perceived as less-able students. This is problematic because undergraduate women may not be able to escape gender-ability stereotypes even when they are outperforming men, which has important implications for 1) the recognition of women's achievements among their peers in undergraduate education and 2) retention of women in STEM disciplines and careers.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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•Environmentally benign method for the synthesis of metal nanoparticles using edible oil.•Shape/size of gold and silver nanoparticles could be modulated.•Rapid, low cost and ...eco-friendly synthesis of stable nanoparticles.•Catalytic activity in the reduction of cationic dye methylene blue.•Size dependent study of catalytic activity established by rate of the reaction.
The use of edible oil for the synthesis of metal nanoparticles by wet chemical method is reported for the first time. The paper presents an environmentally benign bottom up approach for the synthesis of gold and silver nanoparticles using edible coconut oil at 373K. The formation of silver nanoparticles is signaled by the brownish yellow color and that of gold nanoparticles by the purple color. Fine control over the nanoparticle size and shape from triangular to nearly spherical is achieved by varying the quantity of coconut oil. The nanoparticles have been characterized by UV–Visible, Transmission Electron Microscopy and X-ray Diffraction. The chemical interaction of capping agents with metal nanoparticles is manifested using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. The stable and crystalline nanoparticles obtained using this simple method show remarkable size-dependent catalytic activity in the reduction of the cationic dye methylene blue (MB) to leuco methylene blue (LMB). The first order rate constants calculated uphold the size dependent catalytic activity of the synthesized nanoparticles.
Image segmentation is one of the basic strategies in image analytics. It is used for pattern detection, photo montage and object recognition applications. In underwater images light scrambling, ...suspended particles that exhibit in the water, marine snow, and color deviations etc. are some of the issues for image acquisition. Due to these issues, all the segmentation algorithms invariably produce poor results in the case of underwater images. We propose an efficient algorithm for extracting the foreground region from the underwater images based on a region of interest. Our segmentation procedure for underwater images includes color correction, contrast enhancement followed by an interactive GrabCut algorithm. Inclusion of color correction and contrast enhancement minimizes the number of touch ups required to enhance the segmentation when compared to GrabCut algorithm without these preprocessing steps. Our algorithm is efficient in the sense of time, when compared to the other algorithms for the same purpose.
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