PREPARATION, CHARACTERIZATION OF BIOCHAR FOR A SUSTAINABLE SOIL HEALTH

Recent research suggests that biochar is a promising approach to minimize soil contamination caused by heavy metals and organic pollutants. It is also involved in the amendment of soil by altering the nutrients, pH and other factors. Through intensive literature review, this paper was aimed to better understand the selection of feedstock processes, preparation, and characterization of biochar. Wide variety of feedstock used for the biochar production based on the cost effectiveness, ease availability and they are ecofriendly to the environment. Among the thermochemical processes, pyrolysis is the promising techniques followed for the production of BC. The stabilization efficacy was mainly determined by cation exchange capacity, pH, and ash content of the biochar. The physicochemical characteristic of the biochar is analyzed using various methods such as SEM, FTIR, TGA and BET analysis. The surface area plays a major role in the metal sorption. The quality characteristics of biochar as a soil amendment varied greatly with the feedstock materials and the pyrolysis conditions. Biochar plays a great role in increasing the pH which helps the acidic soil region and its high-water retention capacity enhance the moisture level in the soil which enhances the microbial communities and its activity. Biochar becomes stabilized in the soil by interacting with soil particles. The inherent characteristics of the biochar as dictated by feedstock and pyrolysis conditions, interact with climatic conditions such as precipitation and temperature to influence how long biochar carbon remains stored in the soil. Due to its carbon sequestration in the soil, it helps in increasing the fertility of the soil and also enhances the crop yield.

SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS OF WASTE MANAGEMENT FOR ORGANIZATION – A CASE STUDY OF TECHNO INDIA NJR INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, UDAIPUR

Waste generation in India has been increasing, and there are no adequate ground implemented policies for the safe disposal of waste. It increases land and water pollution. Some industries execute zero waste management at their level, but that is not enough to reduce the load on the city's main landfill and disposal site. It is the need of the hour to implement the micromanagement of waste. There are large numbers of schools and colleges in India which generate the same type of waste. These campuses can demonstrate and influence the students, faculties, and other staff and visitors to adopt and successfully implement sustainable practices. Schools and colleges can play an essential role in changing society by teaching students about the new waste management technologies. There are numerous opportunities to introduce new technologies into waste management. The challenge is to encourage the development of technologies that are most conservative of natural resources and that are cost-effective. This paper shows the zero waste management policy in Campus of Techno India NJR Institute of Technology, Udaipur. Separation of waste at source is a vital and essential part of zero waste management. Biodegradable waste is used for composting, and plastic is used for brick manufacturing, a college start-up project. E-waste and hazardous waste are handed over separately to authorized recycling firms.

MOLECULAR AND BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS PSEUDINTERMEDIUS FROM CANINE PYODERMA IN SHIVAMOGGA REGION OF KARNATAKA

Shivamogga. Exudate/pus/lesion swabs were collected from clinical cases of canine pyoderma (n=126) and subjected to isolation and identification of bacterial isolates by phenotypic methods. The bacteriological processing of the samples resulted in the recovery of 95 staphylococcal isolates and 18 other bacterial isolates. On culture, staphylococci were the most predominantly (n=95, 75.39%) isolated organisms. The PCR was employed as molecular method in this study for the detection of species of staphylococcal isolates by targeting nuc gene and it was also used for the detection of virulence gene and antibiotic resistance gene in staphylococcal isolates by targeting siet gene and mecA gene, respectively, by using primers published earlier. One of the S. pseudintermedius isolates which confirmed by PCR and sequencing of partial nuc gene was used as positive reference strain for further screening of isolates by PCR. Based on nuc gene-based PCR, out of 95 staphylococcal isolates obtained, 82 (86.1%)of the isolates were found belonging to S. pseudintermedius. And out of 82 S. pseudintermedius isolates, siet gene was detected in 69 (86.1%) isolates. S. pseudintermedius was found to be predominant bacterial pathogen responsible for pyoderma in dogs.

TRACKING ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND ACTIONS

Life support system or environment of Earth is undergoing rapid &unprecedented changes in recent decades. How to follow up and understand emerging environmental issues and concerns from local to global level employing new and emerging tools and technologies is presented in this communication. An experiential perspective for the benefit of students, professionals, researchers and citizens is presented here in to further the debates regarding actions and programmes to be taken up.

EVALUATION OF MICROBIAL LOAD AND SELECTED HEAVY METALS CONTAMINATION IN THE RIVER BEAS (PUNJAB) INDIA

Aim: To analyse the heavy metal contamination and microbial load in upstream (Talwara), midstream (Urmar Tanda) and downstream (Harike Pattan) stretches of the river Beas in Punjab. Methodology: Month-wise samples were collected in triplicate during the period of May to December, 2019. Heavy metal parameters such as Arsenic, Cadmium, Nickel, Lead and Zinc were analysed by Atomic Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry following standard protocol. Microbial load in water samples was calculated in terms of Total Plate Count, Total Coliform and Faecal Coliform as per following standard protocol. Statistical analysis involved calculating Analysis of Variance at 5% significant level (p<0.05). Results: The study revealed that heavy metal parameters like Arsenic, Cadmium, Nickel, Lead and Zinc ranged in mgl from 0.0 to 0.009, 0.0 to 0.02, 0.0 to 0.004, 0.0 to 0.001, and 0.0 to 0.036 respectively. Total Plate Count ranged from 0.32 4 5 -1 -1 x10 to 3.2 x10 cfu ml whereas, Total Coliforms and Faecal Coliforms ranged from 4.0 to 1100 MPN 100 ml and 0.0 to -1 460 MPN 100 ml respectively. The mean concentrations of analysed metals were recorded in the order of Zinc > Cadmium > Arsenic >Nickel >Lead; and most of them were under the permissible limits; however, the presence of faecal coliforms in the water is alarmingly high at Harike Pattan. Interpretation: This investigation revealed that the river Beas water is suitable for supporting aquatic life, bathing, irrigation and other purposes. The microbial load and the heavy metal parameters need to be monitored regularly, so that their adverse effects on living beings or aquatic organisms may be minimized. River stretch near Harike Pattan and Urmar Tanda being an important habitat of endangered freshwater Dolphin (Platanista gangetica minor), Smooth-Coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicilliata) and Ghariyal (Gavialis gangeticus) is more vulnerable to the toxic levels of heavy metals and contamination of faecal coliform.

MAPPING AND MONITORING OF WETLAND ECOSYSTEMS: A CASE STUDY ON HARIKE AND KESHOPUR WETLAND OVER PUNJAB REGION, INDIA

Wetland plays a vital role in sustainable ecological development. They hold balanced environment conditions and filter the surface and sub-surface water and moderate the local weather condition. But now-a-days wetlands are shrinking quickly all over world due to climate change & anthropogenic activities and extinction of wetlands agitates the local environmental conditions with contexts to water and soil conditions. This study is mainly focused on climate change impacts on wetland ecosystems over Harike and Keshopur wetland in Punjab region, India. Harike wetland is one of largest wetland in northern part of India, which is designated as Ramsar site. The Landsat imageries and climate parameters (includes land surface temperature and rainfall) have been used to extract spatial and temporal information over wetlands during period from 2009 to 2020. Landsat data have been analysed in two phases: Pre-monsoon and Post-Monsoon. Wetland area has been classified into five different classes: agriculture, water, built-up, aquatic vegetation1, and aquatic vegetation2. These analyses showed that wetland area has been reduced over a period of ten years and much area has been converted in agricultural land and built-up. The intense anthropogenic activities have resulted more changes in the wetland over both regions. The present study specifies that wetland ecosystem monitoring is essential for policy makers for sustainable management and also concluded that the significant reduction of highly biodiversity wetland area is required to conserve.

ASSESSMENT OF GROUNDWATER QUALITY FOR DRINKING PURPOSE IN CHARKHI DADRI BLOCK IN CHARKHI DADRI DISTRICT, HARYANA

Water is important for living organisms on the Earth. Present development activities have put pressure on water resources. Groundwater is under more stress because of high exploitation for drinking, irrigation and industrial purposes. In the arid to semi-arid climatic zones groundwater is very important for sustaining day to day activities and agriculture and industrial purposes. The present study area Charkhi Dadri block in Charkhi Dadri district, Haryana was selected to 0 0 study groundwater quality for drinking purpose. The geo-coordinates of the study area are latitudes 28.49 N to 28.70 N 0 0 and longitudes 76.05 E to 76.47 E and covers an area of 396.57 sq. km. In the study area ten groundwater samples were collected in double capped 250 ml plastic bottles. Geo-coordinates of the sample locations were noted using mobile GPS. Chemical analysis of all the ten groundwater samples were done using Tamilnadu Water Supply and Drainage Board (TWAD), Chennai prepared Field Water Testing kit for twelve chemical parameters viz. pH, alkalinity, hardness, chloride, total dissolved solids (TDS), fluoride, iron, nitrite, nitrate, ammonia, phosphate and residual chlorine. Chemical analysis results were entered in excel software and prepared bar graphs. Result of groundwater samples analysis were compared with BIS (IS 10500:2012) drinking water standard to know the suitability of groundwater for drinking purpose. The study shows that pH ranges 7 to 8, alkalinity 200 mg/l to 450 mg/l, hardness 130 mg/l to 800 mg/l, chloride 40 mg/l to 1200 mg/l, TDS 552 mg/l to 2820 mg/l, fluoride 0.5 mg/l to 5 mg/l, iron nil to 0.3 mg/l, ammonia nil to 1 mg/l, nitrite 0.2 mg/l to 1 mg/l, nitrate 45 mg/l to 100 mg/l, phosphate nil in all the ten groundwater samples and residual chlorine nil to 0.2 mg/l. The study is highly useful for planning and monitoring of groundwater for drinking purpose in the study area.

GEOSPATIAL TECHNIQUES AIDED STUDY OF GHAGGAR RIVER WATER QUALITY FOR DRINKING PURPOSE IN PANCHKULA DISTRICT, HARYANA, INDIA

Water is important for survival of living beings as well as geological and geomorphic processes on the planet Earth. In the present scenario of developmental activities both surface and groundwater are polluted and need attention for checking the pollutant sources. Ghaggar river in northern part of the country is flowing from the states-Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and finally in Pakistan. In the upper part of the Ghaggar river after entering in Haryana in Panchkula district its water quality has been assessed for drinking purpose. Eight river water samples were collected from different locations of Ghaggar River in the month of June 2019. Water samples were analyzed using Field Water Testing Kit prepared by Tamilnadu Water Supply and Drainage Board (TWAD), Chennai for chemical parameters-pH, Hardness, Chloride, Fluoride, Iron, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, Phosphate and Residual Chlorine. Results of chemical analysis of water samples were categories as per BIS drinking water standards (IS 10500:2012). In the river water samples pH ranges from 6.5 to 7.5; hardness ranges from 100 mg/l to 1170 mg/l; chloride ranges from 50 mg/l to 360 mg/l; fluoride ranges from 0.5 mg/l to 3 mg/l; iron ranges from nil to 10 mg/l; aammonia ranges from 0.5 mg/l to 5 mg/l; nitrite ranges from 0.2 mg/l to 1 mg/l; nitrate ranges from 20 mg/l to 150 mg/l; phosphate ranges from 0.5 mg/l to 1 mg/l and residual chlorine ranges from nil to 2 mg/l. The data interpretation shows that pH in all the eight water samples is desirable for drinking purpose; hardness is desirable at Bitna, Kaushalya Dam, MajriChowk, Peer Muchchalla, Sector28, Panchkula, Daffarpur and permissible at Jagatpur and non-potable at ChandiMandir; chloride is desirable at Bitna, Jagatpur, Kaushalya Dam, MajriChowk, Peer Muchchalla, Sector-28, Panchkula, Daffarpur and permissible at ChandiMandir; fluoride is desirable at Bitna, Jagatpur, Kaushalya Dam, MajriChowk, Peer Muchchalla, Sector-28, Panchkula, Daffarpur and non-potable at ChandiMandir; iron is desirable at Bitna, Kaushalya Dam, Peer Muchchalla, Sector-28, Panchkula, Daffarpur and non-potable at Jagatpur, ChandiMandir, MajriChowk; ammonia is desirable at Bitna, Sector-28, Panchkula, Daffarpur and non-potable at Jagatpur, Kaushalya Dam, ChandiMandir, MajriChowk, Peer Muchchalla; nitrite is desirable in all the eight water samples; nitrate is desiarble at ChandiMandir, MajriChowk, Peer Muchchalla, Sector-28, Panchkula and non-potable at Bitna, Jagatpur, Kaushalya Dam, Daffarpur; phosphate is desirable in all the eight water samples and residual chlorine is desirable at Bitna, Jagatpur, Kaushalya Dam, ChandiMandir, Peer Muchchalla, Sector-28, Panchkula, Daffarpur and non-potable at MajriChowk. The study shows that river water is not suitable for drinking purpose in seven water samples except one water sample (Sector-28, Panchkula). The study is highly useful for monitoring the water quality of Ghaggar River.

EFFECTS OF ORGANIC MANURES AND INORGANIC FERTILIZERS ON GROWTH, YIELD AND SHELF LIFE OF TOMATO (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)

The present investigation entitled “Effect of Organic manure and Inorganic fertilizers on growth, yield and shelf life of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) was conducted during the kharif season 2020 to assess the effects of inorganic and organic fertilizers on growth parameters, yield attributes and shelf life of tomato variety Pusa Ruby. The experiment was laid in a rendomized block design (RBD) with 8 treatments each replicated thrice.The treatments consisted of different levels of organic fertilizers and inorganic fertilizers. The treatments used were T Control (with no fertilizer), 1 T - 100% NPK RDF (120:80:60),T - 100% CD @20t/ha, T - 100% VC @20t/ha, T - 75% NPK + 25% CD @5t/ha, T - 2 3 4 5 6 50% NPK + 50% CD @10t/ha, T - 75% NPK + 25% VC @5t/ha, T - 50% NPK + 50% VC @10t/ha. Among 8 treatments, 7 8 treatment T (50% NPK + 50% VC) recorded maximum height (74.30 cm), maximum number of branches (9.8), 8 maximum number of flowers/cluster (7.8), minimum days to first fruiting (49.6 days), maximum number of fruits/cluster (6.4), maximum number of fruits per plant (19), maximum weight per fruit (68.86), maximum yield per plant (1.42) and maximum shelf life (11). However, treatment T - 100% VC showed minimum days to 50% flowering (39.8) and 4 maximum number of flower cluster per plant (14.8). Thus, it could be concluded that the use of combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers has potential in improving growth, fruit yield and shelf life of the tomato Pusa Ruby.

EFFECT OF INDUSTRY EFFLUENT ON HISTO-PHARMACOGNOSY OF BOERHAAVIA DIFFUSA LINN. USED AS BLOOD PURIFIER

Aims of the Study: To carried out the effect of Atlas Cycles Industry effluent on pharmacognosy of Boerhaavia diffusa Linn. used as Blood Purifier Method: The effluent of Atlas Cycles Industry was analyzed by Trivedi & Goel, 1986 method. Metacalf and Chalk, 1950 was consulted for anatomical studies of selected plant; for chemical analysis Johanson, 1940, Cromwell, 1955 & Trease and Evans, 1983 were followed. TLC was investigated by WHO, 1998. Results: The physico-chemical parameters of Atlas cycle industry effluent were found greater values as compared to standard values. The morphological & anatomical parameters were showed decreasing trend in those plants which were collected near the vicinity of Atlas cycle industry. The colour reaction tests resulted only degrees of changes. The number of spots in observation of TLC, stomatal index, palisade ratio, water extractive and alcohol extractive values were reduced in those plants which were collected near the vicinity of Atlas cycle industry where as vein Islet & vein termination number, ash values were comparatively higher in same samples. Conclusion: The conclusion of this study is that the plants should not be collected form polluted areas(near the vicinity of any industry) for the preparation of medicines, since majority of parameters reflect decreasing data in those plants which were taken from polluted area.