Dietary habits of lesser bandicoot rat (Bandicota Bengalensis) in an agro-ecosystem, Pothwar Plateau, Pakistan

Dietary habits of bandicoot rats (bandicota bengalensis) were investigated in the agricultural crops of the Pothwar Plateau, Pakistan by analysing stomach contents. The research activities were conducted in major field crops including wheat-groundnut and in the fallow lands during non-crop season at the field boundaries. The specimens were captured from the fields using kill/snap traps, and dissected to collect their stomach samples for laboratory analysis. Light microscopic slides of the plant material were recovered from stomach samples and the reference materials were collected from the field. Results revealed that the bandicoot rat predominantly fed upon cultivated crops during cropping season but consumed wild vegetation during non-cropping season. There was no significance difference between summer and winter diets. Most frequently consumed crop food items were wheat (Triticum aestivum; 28.57%), groundnut (Arachis hypogea; 11.26%), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor; 10.17%), chickpea (Cicer arietinum; 9.52%), maize (Zea mays; 6.49%), millet (Pennisetum glaucum; 5.84%), barley (Hordeum vulgare; 4.98%) and mustard (Brassica campestris; 4.98%). Among wild vegetation were consumed khbal gha (Cynodon dactylon; 7.79%), baron dhab (Demostachya bipinnata; 7.36%) and Prickly flower (Achyranthes aspera; 3.03%). The study concludes that, in addition to consuming wheat and groundnut crops, the Lesser bandicoot rat also subsists on grasses, weeds, and some fodder crops, as important component of its diet in agro-ecosystem of the Pothwar Plateau.

Investigating Planting Concrete Suitability by Evaluating the Physiological Indexes of Three Ground Cover Plants

Concrete is one of the most widely used construction materials for basic infrastructure worldwide, especially in developing areas undergoing rapid urbanization. However, concrete inhibits energy exchange between soil and other ecosystem components. To enhance the fluxion of information between ecosystems, surface vegetation, and basement soil, this paper aims to explore the tolerance of plants growing on PC. Therefore, we investigated two different PC sample groups with aggregate particle diameters of 5–10 and 15–20 mm. After curing, the samples were used to plant three ground cover plants (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers, Agrostis stolonifera, and Sasa argenteostriatus, e.g., Camus), and the results were compared with those from normal soil without PC underneath as a reference. During an observational period of 12 weeks, the growth and height of the plants were documented and analysed. The physiological indexes of free proline (Pro), malondialdehyde (MDA), chlorophyll (Chl), relative electrical conductivity (REC), and soluble protein (SP) were investigated. The correlations and significant differences between these indexes based on the treatments were analysed. Then, principal component analysis (PCA) was used to determine the main variables affecting plant growth. The results showed that there were significant differences between the PC groups and the natural growth group. The growth and height of the three plant species under near-natural (nonconcrete) conditions were better than those of the plants in the PC treatments. The plants in the large-particle concrete (LC) treatment group showed better adaptability than those in the small-particle concrete (SC) treatment group in terms of growth, although both PC treatments resulted in various degrees of damage. PCA showed that SP, REC, and MDA were the most influential factors on plant growth in this study.

Influence of post-treatment irrigation timings and herbicide placement on bermudagrass and goosegrass (Eleusine indica) response to low-dose topramezone and metribuzin programs

Immediate, post-treatment irrigation has been proposed as a method to reduce hybrid bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. x Cynodon transvaalensis Burtt Davy] phytotoxicity from topramezone. Immediate irrigation is impractical since it would take a turfgrass sprayer 10 to 15 minutes to cover an average golf course fairway or athletic field. There is also insufficient evidence regarding how post-treatment irrigation, immediate or otherwise, influences mature goosegrass [Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn.] control from topramezone or low-dose topramezone plus metribuzin programs. We sought to investigate bermudagrass and E. indica response to immediate, 15-minute, and 30-minute post-treatment irrigation compared to no irrigation following topramezone at 12.3 g ae ha−1, the lowest labeled rate, or topramezone at 6.1 g ha−1 plus metribuzin at 210 g ai ha−1. We also evaluated placement of each herbicide and their combination on soil, foliage, and soil plus foliage to help elucidate the mechanisms involved in differential responses between species and herbicide mixtures. Responses were largely dependent on trial due to bermudagrass injury from high-dose topramezone being nearly eliminated by immediate irrigation in one trial and only slightly affected in another. When post-treatment irrigation was postponed for 15 or 30 minutes, topramezone alone injured bermudagrass unacceptably in both trials. Bermudagrass was injured less by low-dose topramezone plus metribuzin than by high-dose topramezone. All post-treatment irrigation timings reduced E. indica control compared to no post-treatment irrigation. The herbicide placement study suggested that topramezone control of E. indica is highly dependent on foliar uptake and phytotoxicity of both bermudagrass and E. indica is greater from topramezone than metribuzin. Thus, post-treatment irrigation likely reduces topramezone rate load with a concomitant effect on plant phytotoxicity of both species. Metribuzin reduced 21-d cumulative clipping wt and tiller production of plants, and this may be a mechanism by which it reduces foliar white discoloration from topramezone.

Taxonomic diversity of weed flora in pulse crops growing field at south-western part of Bangladesh

Pulses are important field crops in Bangladesh and weed infestation in pulses field is a great concern now a days. So, a rigorous field survey was conducted throughout the pulses growing season at pulses grower farmers’ field of south-western part of Bangladesh to know the present status of weed infestation in pulses field. During the survey, fresh samples were collected along with other related information e.g., habitat, location, collection date, flowering time, crop/plant association. Fresh samples were dried well for making herbarium specimens. A sum of 13 weed species under 12 genera and 08 families were collected and documented their uses in various ailments. Among the families, Amaranthaceae is the highest-represented family with 03 species. Among the genera, the largest genera Amaranthus represented by 2 species. Cyperous rotundus, Cynodon dactylon, Chenopodium album, Amaranthus spinosus, Croton bonplandianum, Coccinia grandis are the common and major weed species in pulse crop growing field in south-western part of Bangladesh. The knowledge generated from the present research would be helpful for the management practices of pulse crop associated weeds as well as for getting high economic benefits from beneficial species.

Cynodon dactylon Pers.: A Review on Forage Crop and Medicinal Herb

Cynodon dactylon is a forage crop besides being a medicinal herb which has been holding a sacred position in our Indian culture. Its survival capacity in any ecological succession has forced it to exist as medicinal plant containing a broad spectrum of secondary metabolites like Cyanidin, Luteolin, apigenin having several therapeutic uses. The review paper has been designed in coordination with research articles to compile the various properties of the plant like its thriving capacity in tropical and subtropical regions where it can alter ecosystem by effecting nutrient cycles and community composition, diverse chemical composition, and therapeutic uses to name some such as diabetes, atherosclerosis etc., which could be used as an area of further research for mankind and environmental benefits.

Response of Occurrence of Winter Weeds to Physico-Chemical Characteristics of Soil of Gandhinagar District, Gujarat, India

Gandhinagar is the capital city of Gujarat State. The paper deals with the estimation of nutrients (pH, EC, N, P, K, Zn) in soil of different talukas of Gandhinagar district. This district has four talukas with 290 villages and 10 urban habitations in the district. For the study purpose, the entire district was divided into 20 sites. Five sites of each talukas were selected. Total 20 sampling sites were selected to collect samples. The study was carried for a period of 2 year (2011 to 2013). Soil samples were colleted and analysed for their parameters like pH, EC, Nitrate, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc (Zn) at monthly. Zn was recorded critical in Mansa and Dehgam taluka and quite low in Kalol taluka. The occurrence types and distribution of Amaranthus viridis L., Achyranthus aspera L., Trianthema portulacastrum L, Boerhavia diffusa L., Cyperus rotundus L., Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., Tridex procumbens L., Parthenium hysterophorus L., Euphorbia hirta L., Vernonia cinera (L.) Less., Digera muriata (L.) Mart., Cassia tora L., Chenopodium album L., Portulaca oleracea L. in the study area of Gandhinagar showed relations with the soil in which they occur.

Use of Canopeo for Estimating Green Coverage of Bermudagrass during Postdormancy Regrowth

Objective methods of estimating green coverage using digital image analysis have been used increasingly by turfgrass scientists. The objective of our research was to evaluate the effectiveness of Canopeo, a relatively new smartphone application, for estimating green coverage of bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) emerging from winter dormancy, with or without colorants. A field study was conducted on a research ‘U3’ bermudagrass fairway in Stillwater, OK, during Spring 2019 and 2020. The experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design with three colorant treatments: Endurant Fairway (FW), Endurant Perennial Ryegrass (PR), and an untreated control. Green coverage of the turfgrass canopy was determined weekly from mid-March to early May using a digital camera and ImageJ software, and a smartphone and the Canopeo application. Green coverage estimates from Canopeo correlated strongly (r = 0.91) with those from ImageJ when no colorants were applied. Correlation between Canopeo and ImageJ was diminished under plots treated with colorants. Canopeo is an effective tool for estimating green coverage of living turfgrasses, but additional calibration may be required for acceptable performance when evaluating greenness of colorant-treated turfgrasses.

The Urban Double-Crop: Can Fall Vegetables and a Warm-Season Lawn Co-Exist?

A gardening methodology using double-cropped cool-season vegetables and warm-season turfgrass, thereby capitalizing on the ideal growing season for each, was developed in field trials and tested in volunteers’ landscapes. Broccoli (Brassica oleracea’), lettuce (Lactuca sativa), and Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris subsp. Cicla) were planted into an established hybrid bermudagrass lawn (Cynodon dactylon (L) Pers. × C. transvaalensis Burtt-Davy ‘Tifsport’) in September. The vegetables were planted into tilled strips, 5 cm × 10 cm holes and 10 cm × 10 cm holes in the turf. All treatments produced harvestable yield, though the yield of vegetables planted in the tilled treatments and larger holes was greater than in smaller holes. Efforts to reduce turfgrass competition with vegetables by the application of glyphosate or the use of the Veggie Lawn Pod (an easily installed plastic cover on the lawn) did not increase yield. Tilled treatments left depressions that discouraged spring turfgrass recovery. The double-crop was tested by seven volunteers on their lawns. Though lawn-planted vegetables did not produce as much yield as those planted in the volunteers’ gardens, the volunteers were enthusiastic about this methodology. The volunteers reported that lawn vegetables were more difficult to plant but not more difficult to maintain, and they were easier to harvest than vegetables in their gardens. All volunteers reported satisfactory recovery of their lawns in the spring.