Groundwater Pollution in Bangladesh: A Review

Bangladesh relies mainly on groundwater for irrigation and drinking purposes. Groundwater, however, continuously polluted, is a major obstacle. Nowadays, Bangladesh is moving towards industrial revolution in a considerable speed. As part of this paper's attempt to analyze the groundwater pollution scenario in Bangladesh, specifically in the past two decades, about 100 articles, conference papers, and reports published in national and international journals and books were reviewed, as well as issues concerning pollution sources, health impact assessment, and future perspectives were discussed. The groundwater is contaminated by different contaminants, such as physico-chemicals, trace metals, and microbes. Human health is at great risk from arsenic (As) contamination; it is one of the biggest threats. The cancer risk and non-cancer risk of ingesting water are increased. On the other hand, a large number of peoples were affected due to waterborne diseases governed by microbial contamination. Geophysical and anthropogenic sources, the depth of wells, and geographical factors may influence groundwater pollution. It is recommended that policy makers should address the issue immediately and precautions should be taken wherever necessary.

The Determinants of Agricultural Crop Productivity among Smallholder Households in Haramaya Distinct, Eastern Ethiopia

The agricultural crop is a backbone in Ethiopia since the country's economy is mainly dependent on agriculture, which is dominated by subsistence smallholder farmers who are partially integrated into the market. The objective of this study was to identify the determinants of crop productivity among smallholder farmers in Haramaya distinct, Eastern Ethiopia. A two-stage random sampling procedure was employed to detect a sample containing 260 smallholder households in the study area. Data was collected through semi-structured questionnaire schedules administered to the selected household farmers. The features of smallholder farmers were analyzed through descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression models. The results indicated that the length of farming experience of the household head, number of economically active members in family, amount of organic fertilizer applied, irrigated land area, and soil fertility status of farmland were the significant determinants of agricultural crop productivity. To increase the production and productivity of smallholder farms, the farmers were provided with land irrigation. Based on these findings, the study recommends the provision of organic fertilizer to farmers. Policies should also target supplying improved technology and improved seed to enhance agricultural crop production in Ethiopia.

Removal of Toxic Metals from the Body of Cows by Using Antidote Substances, with its Impact on Milk Productivity and Environmental Safety of Agroecosystems around the Industrial City in Ukraine

Toxic metals like Cd and Pb pose the greatest ecological threat to ecosystems, especially in and around the industrial cities. Four farms located around Kharkiv industrial city were chosen for scientific experiments carried out on cows feeding specially developed antidote (mineral-vitamin premix "MP-A") and subcutaneous injection of biologically active preparation "BP-9". These novelty products enhanced the urinary excretion of heavy metals Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn while ensuring the production of high quality environmentally safe milk. The toxicants are absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract into the blood, travel across the body, accumulate in organs and tissues, and pass through urine and milk. The accumulation of Cd in the blood of tested cows in control group was, on average, from 77.94 to 101.20 nmol/L, and of Pb from 4.63 to 8.32 μmol/L. The transfer of Cd from blood to urine was, on average, 1.7%-2.0%, and of Pb 5.4-7.3%. The antidote substances contributed to the exacerbation of heavy metal extermination from the body of animals and the restoration of its homeostasis. The transfer of Cd from blood to urine averaged 3.9% to 9.5% and of Pb 37.7% to 103.5% in second experimental group of cows. The same for Cd was 7.1% to 12.7% and for Pb was 70.7% to 144.1% in third experimental group. The mineral-vitamin premix and biopreparation BP-9 blocked absorption of the pollutants into the gastrointestinal tract, strengthened the protective effects on organs, and facilitated the elimination of heavy metals through urine. Dairy productivity of animals also increased in cows of the second and third experimental groups by 17-22 kg per day compared to the control group having 14 kg per day (P<0.01).

Dynamics of Grassland Vegetation Composition across different Land-use Types on the Qinghai Tibet Plateau: Implications to Combat Grassland Degradation

The constant biotic and abiotic interventions on the Qinghai Tibet Plateau (QTP) are seriously degrading the grasslands and, at the same time, restricting the active ecosystem function and grassland vegetation distribution on the plateau. This research analyses the dynamics of grassland vegetation composition across three land uses and counties. The degree of grassland degradation was divided into four land-use types based, i.e., healthy grassland (HG), restored grassland (RG), moderately degraded (MD) grassland, and severely degraded (SD) grassland. About 32 plant species were recorded in Tiebujia county, 28 in Maqin county, and 18 in Maduo county. Results showed Poa crymophila, Polygonum sibiricum, Leontopodium nanum and Oxytropis falcatabunge as the most abundant grassland species in all land-uses and counties. The richness of species ranged from 8 to 12 species per land-use, suggesting low richness and diversity in restored and degraded grassland. A positive non-significantly mean change (p<0.05) was detected for richness and evenness indices while a negative mean change (p<0.05) was detected for Simpson and Shannon indices in the alpine meadow and steppe in both Maqin and Maduo county. The results imply that degradation affects grassland vegetation, health, and distribution across the QTP. Plant total cover for the healthy grassland covered far more areas than other land-uses. Urgent mitigation measures to halt grassland degradation and decline in plant vegetation composition on the plateau should be adopted.

A Review of Aquilaria malaccensis Propagation and Production of the Secondary Metabolite from Callus

Aquilaria is an evergreen non-timber agarwood obtained from the 15 species of Aquilaria belonging to the family Thymelecea. There are two species endemic to Northeast India, A. malaccensis and A. khasiana. A. malaccensis generate a high-grade degree of resin as compared to the other Aquilaria species, and it contributes to the economy of the Northeast states of India and the country as a whole. Due to its profoundly valuable sources, it is overexploited, which impacted its availability in genetic environments. The cultivation of the tree is challenging due to some environmental factors like the sensitivity of the seeds to desiccation, high light intensity, low shelf life, slow growth rate, and the effect of insects and microorganisms. Therefore, conservation and proliferation are urgently required for environmental sustainability and prevention from the stage of extinction. The objective of this paper is to compile the major research works on the conservation, production of the secondary metabolite from callus of A. malaccensis and updated information on its developments and approaches that are rapidly taking place in recent years so that further novel research can be envisaged.

The Sustainable Use of Natural Resources in Rural Areas of Ukraine: The Governance Challenge

This article describes the evolution of the regulatory framework for sustainable development in Ukraine based on ratified international treaties and supports the formation of an appropriate legal framework and State policy. The formation of regulatory mechanisms for sustainable developmental goals in Ukraine are aimed at strengthening and ensuring the fair implementation of the citizen’ rights as guaranteed by the Constitution of Ukraine. It also relates to the property rights of the Ukrainian people to land, its bowels, atmospheric air, water and other natural resources within the territory, the natural resources of the continental shelf and the exclusive (marine) economic zone, if the rural areas exist in coastal zones. Since the local officials play a key role in implementing sustainable practices in forestry, fisheries, water management, agriculture and tourism, they can execute capacity building, address the needs of various sectors, promote locally produced sustainable produce, implement incentive schemes, and enforce the regulations and management practices. They can also promote and propagate the economic benefits from the conserved resources to rural constituencies. The local governments can also better manage and mitigate the disasters through maintaining and restoring the ecosystems.

Indigenous Seeds, Seed Selection and Seed Bank for Sustainable Agriculture

Indigenous seeds are grown by the farmers over the years with a strong influence from local natural factors. Such seeds have a higher level of intrapopulation variations and the capacity of buffering the adverse factors. Understanding indigenous seeds along with their diversity are useful to diversify their uses, to assess conservation status, to know the factors making farming areas red zone, and to improve their performance. Selection is the simplest and most common method for the improvement of crop varieties. The variation must be created and maintained to impose selection. Different types of selection can be considered depending on the mode of reproduction of crops. Response to selection and correlated response are estimated to make the selection process more effective. Many different selection approaches can target either developing monomorphic or polymorphic varieties. There are five selection units and can be applied in five crop stages. Farmers’ criteria need to be considered during selection process. Based on the genotypic classes, there are three types of selection namely stabilizing selection, directional selection, and disruptive selection. The most simple and common selection methods are pure lines, mass selection, and class-bulking selection. Orthodox seeds in short, medium, and long-term storage facilities are conserved as a seed bank. Major types are household seed banks, community seed banks, national seeds, natural seed banks, and global seed banks. A seed bank is for assuring the availability of crop diversity for research, study, and production. The common works in seed banks are diversity collection, regeneration, characterization, multiplication, and distribution along with online database management.

Influence of Different Seed Rates on the Growth and Yield Characteristics of Wheat Crop (Triticum aestivum L.): Case Study of Takhar Province, Afghanistan

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of seed rate on the growth and yield attributes of the wheat crop (Triticum aestivum L.) variety Mazar-99 under the agro-climatic conditions of Takhar province, Afghanistan. The experiment was implemented at the research farm of Agriculture Faculty of Takhar University in winter seasons of 2018-2019 with the specific objective of finding out the effect of five seeding rates as the treatment on growth and yield parameters of Mazar-99 variety of wheat. Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was selected as an experiment design with 4 replications and 5 seeding rates viz. 80, 100, 120, 140 and 160 kg/ha made up treatments. Data on growth and yield parameters were collected and analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) for Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The result obtained from the current study reveal that all growth and yield characters were remarkably affected by seeding rate and seed rate of 100 kg per hectare of wheat variety Mazar-99 performed better with respect to different growth and yield parameters such as spike length, number of tillers, number of spike at each plant, leaf area, a total of spikelets per spike and stem girth, grain number/spike, the weight of spike, the weight of grain per spike, grain crop yield, straw crop weight, 1000-grain weight, and biological yield. Whereas 80 and 120 kg/ha were the second-best seeding rates after the 100 kg/ha. However, 160 kg/ha seed rate showed only superiority in plant height, but 140 kg/ha did not show any special superiority in any growth and yield characteristic evaluated in Takhar agro-climatic condition. Thus, a seeding rate of 100 kg per hectare could be recommended to the farmers for better wheat production in Takhar agro-climatic situation in North-Eastern Afghanistan.

Effect of the Biofertilizer (Azolla pinnata) in Combination with Inorganic Fertilizers on Growth and Yield of Rice

This study was conducted at Malaysia Agriculture Research and Development Institute (MARDI), Seberang Perai, Penang (Malaysia), that aims to examine the impacts of the application of Azolla pinnata on the growth and performance of rice of the MR 297 variety. The experiment consisted of five treatments: PK + Azolla (T1); NP + Azolla (T2); NK + Azolla (T3); NPK-Control (T4), and Azolla only (T5). Each treatment had four replicates. The experimental design used was a complete randomized block design (RCBD), and all data collected were analyzed using one-way ANOVA with a statistically significant 0.05% test. For the average soil analysis between the beginning and end, all soil analyses showed decreased soil properties except total N and organic carbon. There is a significant effect on the tiller, panicles, yields, plant height, and SPAD value in crop growth performance. There was no significant effect observed on N and P among plant nutrients. In contrast, there was a significant treatment effect on K. This study concluded that the soil treated with NK + Azolla showed a comparable result with soil treated with inorganic fertilizer only for the total yield.

Analysis of the Relationship between Tourist Demand and Sustainable Development Indicators in the Context of the Danube River in the Romanian Trajectory

Practice has shown that tourism is an activity with a global spread, and sustainable development being a concept with global applicability, the intersection of the two elements is considered inevitable. Both elements are commensurable, which makes it possible to study them and analyze the relationships that arise from cohabitation in the economic and social environment. The purpose of this study is to find out to what extent the variation of tourism demand is influenced by the variation of some indicators of sustainable development. A multifactorial regression model was used, in which the number of tourists represents the dependent variable, and the number of unemployed, the natural increase of the population and the existing accommodation capacity are independent variables. For data processing, the Eviews statistical software was used. The greatest impact on the number of tourists is manifested by the existing accommodation capacity, and overall, the variation of the dependent variable is explained in proportion of 83% by the variation of the independent variables.