​Yield Attributes, Yield and Nutrient Uptake of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) as Influenced by Zinc Fortified Briquettes in Medium Black Soil

Background: Briquettes is more efficient than conventionally applied nutrients as it reduce the loss of nutrients by obtaining higher yield and decreased the expenditure cost of fertilizers. Indian soils are 49 per cent deficient in zinc which is characterized by widespread Zn deficiency in human beings. Methods: Three different zinc fortified briquettes viz., UB-DAP, UB-suphala and UB-KAB were tested in field experiments during kharif season of 2016-19 to compare and calculate variations in yield, yield attributing characters and nutrients uptake by rice (Oryza sativa L.). Result: The results showed that treatment UB-KAB fortified with 10 kg ZnSO4.7H2O ha-1 (T8) registered higher growth, yield parameters and Zn concentration in grain indicating zinc-sulfate-heptahydrate (ZSHH) offers vital solution to curtail Zn malnutrition. Further, UB-KAB fortified through ZSHH (T8) significantly enhanced the grain (55.2 q ha-1) and straw (63.6 q ha-1) yield of rice over RDF and absolute control. Application of UB-KAB fortified with 10 kg ZnSO4.7H2O ha-1 (T8) significantly increased nutrient uptake of N (97.2 kg ha-1), P (20.2 kg ha-1), K (95.5 kg ha-1), Zn (262.4 g ha-1) and S (53.9 kg ha-1) over fertilizer control (75% RDF) and absolute control. The applications of KAB fortified with zinc sulphate assume great significance in improving rice productivity.

Ecophysiological Effects of Waterborne Zinc on Ctenopharyngodon idellus

The juvenile Ctenopharyngodon idellus (19.68±0.17 g) were exposed to the solutions of zinc sulfate heptahydrate (ZnSO4.7H2O), to observe the toxic effects of waterborne Zn on this fish. The results showed that the median lethal concentration (LC50) over 96 h of waterborne Zn2+ was 5.00 mg/L. After 8 weeks of chronic exposure, the final weight and the specific weight growth rate of C. idellus decreased with the increasing Zn2+ concentration, and the differences were significant among the three groups (P < 0.05). The content of ash in the high exposure group was significantly higher than those in the other two groups (P < 0.05). The dry mass in the two exposure groups and the energy density in the low concentration group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The contents of Zn in the hepatopancreas, gill, intestine, muscle, and whole body in the high concentration group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The contents of Zn in hepatopancreas were significantly higher than those in other organs (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference for the contents of Zn in the intestine and gill in the two Zn exposure groups, but those were significantly higher than those in other organs except hepatopancreas (P < 0.05). The content of Zn in muscle was significantly lower than that in the other organs. It suggests that the pattern of energy allocation of the C. idellus is changed by the Zn exposure. Fat was preferentially used to provide extra energy for the detoxification under the Zn exposure, and the rates of the protein and energy deposited in the body were reduced. Therefore, the growth of the fish was depressed. The C. idellus mainly takes up Zn through the gill and distributes Zn to other tissues via blood circulation.

Biologically synthesized iron nanoparticles (FeNPs) from Phoenix dactylifera have anti-bacterial activities

Nanotechnology is a vast field of science with the most vibrant and conspicuous applications. The green synthesis approach is cost-effective, eco-friendly, and produces the most stable metal-based nanoparticles without the use of toxic chemicals. This study presents the green synthesis of iron nanoparticles (FeNPs). For biosynthesis of FeNPs, Phoenix dactylifera extract was used as a reducing agent and iron sulfate heptahydrate (FeSO4·7H2O) was used as a substrate. FeNPs were characterized by different techniques including UV–Visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and nano zeta-sizer analysis. The antimicrobial activity of FeNPs synthesized by using an aqueous extract of Phoenix dactylifera was evaluated against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus leutus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. A notable color change from yellow to black confirmed the synthesis of FeNPs. The sharp peak at 450 nm UV–Visible spectroscopy confirmed the synthesis of FeNPs. FTIR showed the presence of O–H and C=C stretching due to the presence of phenol and alkene functional groups. The average size of FeNPs was 6092 d.nm. The results of antimicrobial activity showed that FeNPs exhibit different potential against different bacterial strains with a maximum 25 ± 0.360 zone of inhibition against Escherichia coli. Thus, green synthesized FeNPs could be used as potential antimicrobial agents.

EXTRACTION OF ZINC SULFATE THAT UTILIZES IN THE MANUFACTURING OF FOOD SUPPLEMENTS BY USAGE (ZN-C) BATTERIES WASTES

Spent zinc-carbon (dry cell) batteries have negative environmental effects. It is necessary to save the environment from them and take back the mineral values from these batteries. Many engineering materials were contained in the spent batteries. A large amount of anode zinc (zinc casing) was occupied in spent batteries, therefore; it must be recovered on the form of a useful and essential chemical compounds that can be used in daily life. It is found from the chemical composition an anode zinc (zinc casing), it was over 99 percent perspicuous with a very small percentage of traces metals in it. Zinc sulfate was known as a significant food supplement for humans, animals and plants. It can be made by investing the selective corrosion resulted from the chemical reaction between zinc metal and diluted sulfuric acid. Thus, the zinc sulfate heptahydrate was produced. Zinc sulfate heptahydrate resulted from corrosion reactions was tested by XRD and it was found similar to standard patterns. The XRD pattern of zinc sulfate heptahydrate shows four major peaks happened at (2ϴ). The most intense peak for zinc sulfate heptahydrate happened at 27.5°. In addition, to hydrogen gas was produced as a by-product of that reaction.

A (4,4)-connected zinc(II) coordination polymer constructed with the flexible 2-carboxy phenoxyacetate ligand: synthesis, conformation alteration and fluorescent properties

A new binary ZnII coordination polymer, [Zn(2-cpa)(H2O)] n (2D-Zn) has been prepared by a 120 °C hydrothermal reaction of zinc(II) sulfate heptahydrate and 2-carboxy phenoxyacetic acid (2-H2cpa) in the presence of potassium hydroxide. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis shows that the ZnII ion is located in a deformed ZnO6 octahedron bonded by one water and three 2-carboxy phenoxyacetate (2-cpa) ligands. The 2-cpa exhibits pentadentate double bridging chelate-μ 3 coordination mode and connects adjacent ZnII ions to generate a corrugated (4,4)-connected layer structure. The structures, conformation of 2-cpa and photoluminescence spectra for 2D-Zn have been carefully analyzed and compared with its two closely related compounds ̶ 1D [Zn(2-cpa)(H2O)] n (1D-Zn) and mononuclear [Zn(2-cpa)(H2O)3] (0D-Zn). The results showed that the conformation of 2-cpa in 2D-Zn has the maximum alteration and the corresponding fluorescence emission peak of 2D-Zn has the largest red-shift of 62 nm compared with that of free 2-H2cpa.