Lack Of Water Availability Research Articles

Effect of Anti-Transpiration and Potassium on Water Use Efficiency and Water Consumption under Water Stress Conditions to Climate Change Resistance

Climate change impact serious threats to global food security due to changes in water requirements resulting from the variation and instability of the spatial and temporal distribution of rainfall and the lack of water availability. Therefore, our research aims to use anti-transpiration agents that reduce plant water consumption, thus providing adequate amounts of water for agriculture in arid areas. A field experiment was conducted under water stress conditions during the winter seasons 2022-2023 and 2023-2024. The study included three levels of water stress, which are depletion of 40, 55 and 70% of the available water at a depth of 20 cm for the first three irrigations and a depth of 30 cm for the remaining irrigations and for the three treatments in succession. Anti-transpiration was added from different sources, which are kaolin, paraffin wax, silicon and potassium, in addition to the comparison treatment (spraying with water only). The results showed significant differences between the depletion treatments, as the 40% depletion treatment of the available water was significantly superior in most of the characteristics of the crop and its components, as the amount of increase in the grain yield was 62.24 and 64.22% for the two seasons in succession, compared to the 70% depletion treatment of the available water, which gave the lowest averages for all the studied characteristics. The irrigation treatment after depleting 40% of the available water was characterized by the best water use efficiency of 1.60 and 1.44 kg m-3 for the two seasons respectively, compared to the treatment of depleting 70% of the available water, which gave the lowest water use efficiency of 1.14 and 1.02 kg m-3 for the two seasons respectively. Spraying with anti-transpiration and potassium led to a significant increase in the yield and all its components compared to the comparison treatment (spraying with water only), which gave the lowest averages for all the studied traits, as spraying with potassium and kaolin gave a significant increase in most of the studied traits. Also, anti-transpiration and potassium, represented by potassium and kaolin, had a significant effect on water use efficiency, as the increase amount when spraying with potassium was 45.87 and 46.93% for the two seasons respectively compared to the comparison treatment (spraying with water only). As for the actual water consumption, we find an increase in the values ​​of water consumption and the number of irrigations in the comparison treatment (spraying with water only) compared to the anti-transpiration and potassium treatments, as the anti-transpiration and potassium provided water at a depth of 550, 414 and 405 m3 ha-1 for the first season and 615, 375 and 393 m3 ha-1 for the second season for the depletion treatments of 40, 55 and 70% of the available water, respectively, compared to the comparison treatment (spraying with water only). This increase is not small when applied to large areas and providing additional agricultural areas that can be invested. These findings suggest that targeted use of these treatments can effectively mitigate the effects of water stress, improving wheat production and resource efficiency in water-limited environments.

Impact of projected climate variability on agricultural water demand of key crops in drought-prone central India region

ABSTRACT Water scarcity predominantly affects agriculture production. It is mandatory to save future water to prevent its shortage due to variations in climate. Variation in climate is a significant factor responsible for frequent droughts over the Bundelkhand region in central India. It is necessary to obtain early warning studies in this region to manage and arrange future agricultural water. Out of best Regional Climate Models (RCMs) under the Coordinated Regional Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX) and their driving Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5), General Circulation Models (GCMs) for India, the most effective model has been found based on the observed multiscale data for the region. The daily projected data (2021–2100) of best GCM, Earth System Model, ESM-2M have been used to evaluate the future water requirements for major rabi and hot weather crops grown in the region. The climate change effect is seen in the majority, especially in the upper Bundelkhand part. Most of the crops will need more water than the present condition, especially from 2071 to 2100. The findings will also help researchers and policymakers to utilize the future projected data to propose suitable water management strategies for agriculture.

Examining the distribution of Middle Paleolithic Nubian cores relative to chert quality in southern (Nejd, Dhofar) and south‐central (Duqm, Al Wusta) Oman

AbstractLithic raw material properties are often invoked to explain the presence, absence, form, or ontogeny of Paleolithic stone tools. Here, we explore whether the frequency of the Middle Paleolithic Nubian core form and core‐reduction systems co‐varies with toolstone quality in two neighboring regions in Oman: the southern region of Nejd, Dhofar, and the south‐central region of Duqm, Al Wusta. Specifically, we predicted that if raw material differences were influencing the distribution of Nubian cores, the chert would be of higher quality in the southern region, where Nubian cores were frequent, and of lower quality in the south‐central region, where they were scarce. We tested this prediction by collecting 124 chert samples from 22 outcrops and then quantitatively assessed two geochemical variables that are widely thought to influence knapping: impurity amount and silica content. We also examined the mineralogical composition, and the crystallite size and lattice strain for quartz (crystalline α‐SiO2) of representative chert samples. Our results suggest that the cherts in the two regions are similar, which is not consistent with the hypothesis that lithic raw material quality contributed to Nubian core spatial distribution in Oman. We discuss potential alternative hypotheses to explain Nubian core geographic patterning, and provisionally suggest that the scarcity of Nubian cores in south‐central Oman may be due to a concomitant scarcity of toolmakers, given a lack of water availability.

PENGARUH PENGGUNAAN TEKNOLOGI IRIGASI TETES TERHADAP PENDAPATAN USAHATANI CABAI DI KECAMATAN WOLOWAE KABUPATEN NAGEKEO

The constraint faced by farmers in Wolowae Sub-district is the lack of water availability during the dry season. One of the efforts to increase agricultural productivity in drylands is to develop water-saving irrigation technology (drip irrigation), on land with limited water sources. Adopting an agricultural technology will certainly require additional costs in the production process. This study aims to determine: (1) the productivity of chili farming before and after using drip irrigation technology (2) the difference in chili farming income before and after using drip irrigation technology and (3) the feasibility of chili farming that applies drip irrigation technology. This research was conducted in Anakoli Village and Totomala Village, Wolowae District, Nagekeo Regency in May and June 2023. The research location was determined by purposive sampling. The determination of the sample in this study was carried out using the simple random sampling method with a sample size of 78 people determined using the Isaac and Michael formula. The data collection method in this study is a survey method by collecting primary data and secondary data. The collected data were analyzed descriptively and a simple statistical test was carried out, namely the Paired sample T-test (t test). The results showed that (1) the productivity of chili farms after using drip irrigation technology is higher than before using drip irrigation technology (4 tons / ha) (2) there is a significant difference in income on chili farms before and after using drip irrigation technology (0.006 <0.05) and (3) R / C ratio shows that the value of R / C> 1 so that chili farms using drip irrigation technology are feasible to cultivate R / C (5.03).

Genotype x Environment Interaction and Stability Analysis for Seed Yield in Desi Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under Irrigated Condition

Background: Chickpea is mainly grown on marginal lands and encounter the problem of erratic rainfall that causes lack of water availability especially at terminal growth stages. Exploration of yield stability and defining the adaptation domains of advance genotypes in different ecosystem is highly imperative for crop genetic improvement programs. Development of variety with high yield potential and stable under irrigated condition is one of the major objectives of chickpea improvement programme, which can be achieved by improving selection efficiency with estimating stability parameters. Ten chickpea genotypes as advance breeding lines and popular varieties were evaluated to assess seed yield stability under irrigated condition during rabi 2021-22. Methods: Experiments were conducted in randomized block design with three replications at five different locations of Karnataka i.e. Bidar, Kalaburagi, Bheemarayanagudi, Raichur and Hagari. The interaction analysis (AMMI ANOVA) indicates large variations for seed yield due to highly significant (p less than 0.01) environment (65.42%) and significant (p less than 0.05) genotype (10.03%), thus the genotypes were diverse with large sum of squares for seed yield and environment. Result: The differential response of chickpea genotypes for seed yield across the environments was observed. IPCA1 and IPCA2 together captured 12.97 per cent of the interaction mean squares RG-2016-134 and KCD-2019-05 showed higher mean yields and adaptable to favourable environments. Based on AMMI bi-plot analysis, genotypes (KCD-2019-05 and Super Annigeri-1) were stable and (DC-17-1111 and RG-2016-134) were unstable. Similarly, best performer genotypes and three mega environments were noticed through the analysis. Three environments i.e., (Bidar, Kalaburagi and Raichur) were found with most selective for seed yield estimation. The genotypes (RGV-203, KCD-2019-02 and Super Annigeri-1) were the best among all the ten tested genotypes in terms of seed yield stability.

Ecosystem services and sustainable peace in Afghanistan: Gaps in national policy and its security implications

AbstractWhile previous studies underscore the importance of climate‐sensitive approaches to peacebuilding, the relationship between ecosystem services and peace and security, especially at the local level, has been insufficiently studied. We argue that ecosystem services are often neglected by national‐level actors and insufficiently integrated into peacebuilding interventions and project design. In fact, policy discourse at highly aggregate levels of analysis silences local, community understandings of ecosystem services and its potential for contributing to sustainable peace. For example, despite investment in community development in Afghanistan via the Citizens' Charter Afghanistan Project, there is scant reference to ‘ecosystem services’ on which Afghans are so reliant, much less any policy planning informed by it and directed at addressing climate and environmental risks. Drawing on evidence from Kabul and Herat provinces in Afghanistan, we illuminate the intersections among insecurity, environmental sustainability and ecosystem services. Specifically, we examine water‐related services in Chest‐e Sharif district in Herat province and demonstrate how the lack of water availability and (mis)management of water infrastructure contribute to local communities' sense of precarity and government neglect. The findings inform our policy recommendations which are intended to address these gaps.

Determination of water availability and long growth period of maize plant in Boalemo Regency, Indonesia

The lack of water availability and the short period of maize growth has the potential to be the main obstacles to achieving optimal production. Therefore, this research aimed to determine the water availability and long growth period (LGP) of maize plants in Boalemo Regency, which was included in the agrokilmat zone E2. Rainfall and temperature data from Saritani, Tangkobu, and Bubaa climate stations in Boalemo Regency were used over ten years, from 2012 to 2022. The soil profile moisture content data used pF 2.5 and pF 4.2 while the tool used Cropwat8.0. Furthermore, the determination of available water and LGP was conducted using a water balance table with the Thornwaite method. The results showed that the highest and lowest water availabilities were 556 mm and 118 mm at the Saritani and Tangkobu climate stations, with a maximum LGP of maize at 242 days and 181 days, respectively. Based on climate stations, the availability of water and the amount of LGP follow the pattern of Saritani climate station > Bubaa climate station > Tangkobu climate station.

Vulnerability and ecosystem-based adaptation in the farming communities of droughtprone Northwest Bangladesh

Agriculture is sensitive to climate change as it depends on temperature and rainfall patterns for crop production. Though Bangladesh's recent growth in its agriculture sector is remarkable, the farmer community living in the northwest region of Bangladesh faces drought every year that negatively affects agriculture, ecology, and society. However, studies focusing on farmer communities' vulnerability to drought and adaptation options through a social-ecological lens are limited. The present study used a framework that combines social-ecological vulnerability (i.e., exposure, sensitivity, and lack of resilience) and ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) strategies and linked them with risk governance (i.e., organization, planning, and implementation) to understand social-ecological risk and adaptation. Data was collected through 50 in-depth interviews and six focus group discussions with the farmer communities of the Tanore sub-district of Rajshahi district, Bangladesh. We found that increased temperature, lack of water availability, change in rainfall pattern, and limited availability of drought-resilient crop seeds increased farmers’ vulnerability to drought. Farmers were shifting from traditional farming practices to more ecosystem-based, integrated farming practices that are less climate-sensitive. Combined agriculture, selecting drought-tolerant rice varieties, and shifting cropping patterns were some strategies that farmers adopted to address risks. However, the adaptation of these strategies was not well-governed. Farmers opined some strategies that could be initiated at the organization (e.g., local government support), planning (e.g., planning farming skill development), and implementation (e.g., restoring water bodies) levels to help the community to reduce risk. The study would aid in framing governance measures to reduce vulnerability and risk in agriculture-dominated social-ecological systems.

Profil Petani Bunga Teratai di Subak Duaji, Desa Sibanggede, Kecamatan Abiansemal, Kabupaten Badung, Bali

Profile of Lotus Flower Farmers in Subak Duaji, Sibanggede Village, Abiansemal Sub-District, Badung Regency of Bali Province
 The rapid development of lotus flower plantations in Subak Duaji is certainly very influential on the parties involved in the management of farming, namely farmers. The success of farmers can be measured by the ability of farmers to manage their farms. The motivation behind this examination is to analyze the profile of lotus flower farmers through inside and outside qualities of farmers, farmers income and the obstacles faced by farmers. The research was conducted in Subak Duaji, Sibanggede Village with 53 respondents. The analytical method used is descriptive quantitative and qualitative analysis. The results of the analysis show that the land is managed by the farmers themselves, with family labor, the capital comes from the farmers themselves, with their own agricultural tools and machines, the age of the lotus farmer is the production level, the number of dependents in the family is less than 3 people, the education level is high school, the average area of land is 30.4 acres, have experience in farming between 5-10 years. There is no counseling to lotus farmers, information and communication media are obtained between farmers, the role of the government is available, with flower marketing done by direct marketing to consumers. The average net income of farmers from lotus farming is IDR 18.067.751/30.4 Are/year. Constraints faced by farmers are the lack of water availability during irrigation improvements upstream, the lack of consumers to buy lotus flowers on the day and the constraints of the presence of pests that attack plants. This farming is quite profitable.

Adopsi Inovasi Teknik Tanam Jarwo Riting Plus-Plus pada Petani Padi Sawah (Oryza sativa L.) di Kecamatan Susukan Kabupaten Banjarnegara

This research was conducted in Susukan Sub-district, Banjarnegara Regency, from March to April 2022. It aims to figure out the process of the adopted innovation of Jarwo Riting Plus-Plus in the area. The method used is descriptive qualitative and quantitative. They applied purposive sampling method with census technique which resulted in one (1) key informant and 23 farmer respondents who adopted the technique. The research results concluded that Jarwo Riting Plus-Plus is a rice cultivation technique that uses Jajar Legowo system, then a surrounding ditch is made in each rice field, afterwards each rice field is planted with refugia plants, and the last phase is to release of fish in each rice field. Characteristics of 23 respondents include age, number of dependents, education level, length of farming, and land area. The motivating factors for the adoption of the planting technique are institutional support and easy access to information, while the inhibiting factors are farmers' refusal, security intrusion, high land slope, lack of water availability, prone to flooding and high use of fertilizers and pesticides. The adoption rate implemented by the rice farmers in Susukan sub-district is in the medium category.

Decolonizing peace with a gender perspective

PurposeThis paper aims to analyze a decolonized peace with gender perspective. Liberal democracies had consolidated on conquest, slavery, racism, sexism, colonialism, raw material extraction and female exploitation. Additional burdens came from neoliberal globalization with the massive burning of fossil oil, changing the Earth's history from the Holocene toward the Anthropocene. Multiple nexus between the human and environmental system requires an epistemology from the Global South. The paper explores alternative peace paradigms enabling poor and exploited people to overcome the destructive outcomes of patriarchal violence and extractivism. Regionally and locally, they are experimenting with just, safe, equal and sustainable alternatives of free societies.Design/methodology/approachThe nexus approach focuses on system efficiency, internal and external feedbacks and allows decision-making processes with stronger cross-sectoral coordination and multi-level governance. It includes the understanding of the policy agenda and the political actors at different levels, explaining the discrimination of gender from local to global. The analysis establishes complex relations between theory and political actions, due that all actions are inherently mediated by gender. A key focus is a relationship and the outcomes of policies, where communication and collaboration at the local level grant efficient peaceful resource management with gender equity.FindingsAn engendered-sustainable peace approach is culturally decentralized and may offer alternatives to the ongoing destruction process of neoliberal corporatism and violence. Drastic systemic change requires massive changes from bottom-up and top-down before 2030–2050. Global solidarity among all excluded people, especially women and girls, promotes from childhood an engendered-sustainable peace-building process, where positive feedbacks may reduce the tipping points on Earth and among humankind. Engendered-sustainable peace can mitigate the upcoming conflicts and catastrophes, limiting the negative feedbacks from abusive, selfish and destructive corporations. A greater self-regulating sustainable system with a HUGE-security could promote a decolonized, engendered and sustainable peace for everybody.Research limitations/implicationsThe interconnected risks are cascading across different domains, where systemic challenges have intensified conflicts and violence, due to uncertainty, instability and fragility. Cascading effects not only demand prevention for sudden disruptions (hurricanes, floods) but also for slow-ongoing processes (drought, sea-level rise, lack of water availability, etc.), which are equally or more disruptive. Women suffer differently from disasters and are prone to greater impacts on their life and livelihood. An engendered peace is limited by the deep engrained patriarchal system. Only a culture of peace with gender recognition may grant future peace and also the sustainable care of ecosystems.Practical implicationsThe Global South is exploring alternative ways to overcome the present violent and destructive globalization by promoting deep engrained indigenous values of Aymaras’ living well, the shell model of commanding by obeying of the Zapatistas or Bhutan’s Happiness Index. Globally, critical women and men are promoting subsistence agriculture, solidarity or gift economy, where local efforts are restoring the equilibrium between humans and nature. An engendered-sustainable peace is limiting the destructive impacts of the Anthropocene, climate change and ongoing pandemics.Social implicationsAn engendered-sustainable peace is culturally decentralized and offers alternatives to the ongoing destruction process of neoliberal corporatism, climate change and violence. The text explores how to overcome the present hybrid warfare with alternative HUGE security and peace from the bottom-up. Regional reinforcement of food security, safe water management, local jobs and a concordian economy for the most vulnerable may change the present exploitation of nature and humankind. Growing solidarity with people affected by disasters is empowering women and girls and dismantling from the bottom-up, the dominant structures of violence and exploitation.Originality/valueThe military-industrial-scientific corporate complex and the exploitation of women, men and natural resources, based on patriarchy, has produced climate change, poverty and global pandemics with millions of unnecessary deaths and suffering. A doughnut engendered peace looking from the outside and inside of the system of globalization and environmental destruction proposes to overcome the growth addiction by a growth agnostic society. Engendered peace explores alternative and sustainable values that go beyond the dominant technological changes. It includes a culturally, politically and institutionally ingrained model where everybody is a participant, reinforcing an engendered-sustainable peace and security for everybody.

Numerical Model for Heat Transfer Processes in Dry Ash Conveyors

Abstract The dry handling of bottom ash from coal-fired power plants has become more and more important in recent years due to a lack of water availability at the location of power plants or for environmental reasons. Hence, it is crucial that a sufficient cooling of the bottom ash can be ensured by the dry cooling air. In this work, a numerical model for the assessment of heat transfer processes in dry ash conveyors is developed and implemented via the software wolframmathematica. The model uses a newly introduced representative geometric quantity for ash particle geometry. In addition to the ash, cooling air is considered as an own phase for which a temperature solution is obtained. A numerical example, considering geometrical and operational data of an existing facility, shows that the main heat transfer between the ash and the cooling air takes place in the ash hopper, where convective heat transfer from ash to cooling air outweighs the effects from coke combustion and radiation from the boiler outlet area. The convective heat transfer in the ash hopper predominantly depends on the geometrical appearance, i.e., size and shape, of the particles, the grain density, as well as on the falling time/velocity. Conservatism of the calculation approach is indicated based on comparison of computed temperatures with measured data and literature values. The derived model can be used in future designs and projections of dry ash handling systems.

Durability and Self-Sealing Examination of Concretes Modified with Crystalline Waterproofing Admixtures.

Repairing concrete structures costs billions of dollars every year all around the globe. For overcoming durability concerns and creating enduring economical structures, chemical admixtures, as a unique solution, have recently attracted a lot of interest. As permeability of a concrete structure is considered to play a significant role in its durability, Permeability Reducing Admixtures (PRA) is one of the ideal solutions for protecting structures exposed to water and waterborne chemicals. Different products have been developed to protect concrete structures against water penetration, which, based on their chemistry, performance, and functionality, have been categorized into PRA. As it has previously been tested by authors and proven to be a promising solution, a hydrophilic Crystalline Waterproofing Admixtures (CWA) has been considered for this study. This paper aims to investigate how this product affects concrete’s overall freeze–thaw resistance, self-sealing, and corrosion resistance. Various testing methods have been utilized to examine the performance of CWA mixtures, including the linear polarization resistance, resonance frequency testing, half-cell potential, and self-sealing test. The reinforcement corrosion potential and rate measurements indicated superior performance for CWA-treated samples. After being exposed to 300 freeze–thaw cycles, concrete mixes containing CWA—even non-air-entrained ones—showed a Durability Factor (DF) of more than 80% with no signs of failure, while non-air-entrained control samples indicated the lowest DF (below 60%) but the greatest mass loss. The major causes are a reduction in solution permeability and lack of water availability in the concrete matrix—due to the presence of CWA crystals. Furthermore, evidence from the self-sealing test suggests that CWA-treated specimens can seal wider cracks and at a faster rate.

Effect of variations in milling speed with high energy milling treatment on surface area of biochar material

Biochar is a renewable and abundant carbon source and is useful for increasing food security and plant diversity in areas with poor soil conditions, lack of organic matter, lack of water availability and chemical fertilizers. Biochar micro porous structure can be produced from corncob material which inherits the architecture of raw materials. To increase the surface area of the biochar material, high energy milling treatment was carried out in this study by varying the speed of milling in the same milling time. Milling time is carried out at 3 hours with milling speeds varying of 300, 500 and 700 rpm. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope (SEM), particle size analyser (PSA), and surface area analysis - Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (SAA-BET). The test results show that at speed of 300, 500 and 700 rpm it has produced biochar with a particle size of 947,9; 868,5 and 799,2 nm, respectively. While the SAA-BET test has produced a surface area of 10.115; 15.889 and 18.303 m2/g. This study describes an increase of surface area when compared without milling treatment which has a surface area of 7917 m2/g.

Physiological and biochemical parameters of Ficus species and cultivars under dehydration conditions on the Southern coast of the Crimea

The results of the studies of proline content, peroxidase, catalase, polyphenol oxidase activity and chlorophyll fluorescence induction (ChFI) parameters in leaves of Ficus species and cultivars under controlled dehydration conditions are presented. It was shown that the ChFI parameters, the most sensitive to the lack of water availability, are the characteristics of the chlorophyll fluorescence fast phase. Proline content, peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activity can be used to addition diagnose of drought resistance of the plants of the genus Ficus. The cultivars Sabrutsiya Rozovaya, Sary Stambulskij and the species F. palmata are relatively drought tolerant.

Physiological Basis of Genotypic Response to Management in Dryland Wheat.

A great majority of dryland wheat producers are reluctant to intensify management due to the assumption that lack of water availability is the most critical factor limiting yield and thus, the response to management intensification would be limited. We conducted on-farm field experiments across three locations and two growing seasons in Kansas using 21 modern winter wheat genotypes grown under either standard (SM) or intensified management (IM) systems. The goals of this study were to (i) determine whether the SM adopted is adequate to reach achievable yields by farmers in the region and (ii) identify differences in responsiveness to IM among a range of modern genotypes. Across all sites-years and genotypes, the IM increased yield by 0.9 Mg ha-1, outyielding the SM system even in the lowest yielding conditions. As expected, the yield response to IM increased with the achievable yield of the environment and genotype. Across all sources of variation, the yield responsiveness to IM was related to increased biomass rather than harvest index, strongly driven by improvements in grain number (and independent of changes in grain weight), and by improvements in N uptake which resulted from greater biomass and shoot N concentration. The IM system generally also increased grain N concentration and decreased the grain N dilution effect from increased yield. Genotypes varied in their response to IM, with major response patterns resulting from the combination of response magnitude (large vs. small) and consistency (variable vs. consistent). Genotypes with high mean response and high variability in the response to IM across years could offer greater opportunities for producers to maximize yield as those genotypes showed greater yield gain from IM when conditions favored their response. For the background conditions evaluated, intensifying management could improve wheat yield in between c. 0.2 and 1.5 Mg ha-1 depending on genotype.

Effect of Drought-Stress Conditions in Chlorophyll Content of Dendrobium sp. Planlets

Dendrobium sp. was a popular ornamental plant and has high economic value. One of many difficulties in the growth of orchids in Indonesia is low humidity and lack of water availability. Regulatory Substance Growth in the form of an atonic solution can increase the growth of orchid plants. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of atonic solutions on orchid chlorophyll content in drought stress conditions. This study used a 3x3 factorial design. Factor A is the atonic solution with 3 levels of concentration: 0 mL/L, 2 mL/L, and 3 mL/L. Factor B is PEG 6000 with 3 concentration levels: 0% b/v, 20% b/v and 25% b/v. The parameters tested were chlorophyll a, b and total Dendrobium orchid plantlets. The results showed that atonic solution and PEG 6000 significantly affected the chlorophyll a, b and total content of chlorophyll. The higher concentration of the atonic solution, the more content of chlorophyll a, b and total plantlets of decreased in drought stress conditions in vitro.

Effect of Drought-Stress Conditions in Chlorophyll Content of Dendrobium sp. Planlets


 Dendrobium sp. was a popular ornamental plant and has high economic value. One of many difficulties in the growth of orchids in Indonesia is low humidity and lack of water availability. Regulatory Substance Growth in the form of an atonic solution can increase the growth of orchid plants. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of atonic solutions on orchid chlorophyll content in drought stress conditions. This study used a 3x3 factorial design. Factor A is the atonic solution with 3 levels of concentration: 0 mL/L, 2 mL/L, and 3 mL/L. Factor B is PEG 6000 with 3 concentration levels: 0% b/v, 20% b/v and 25% b/v. The parameters tested were chlorophyll a, b and total Dendrobium orchid plantlets. The results showed that atonic solution and PEG 6000 significantly affected the chlorophyll a, b and total content of chlorophyll. The higher concentration of the atonic solution, the more content of chlorophyll a, b and total plantlets of decreased in drought stress conditions in vitro.

DISPERSIBLE TABLETS: AN OVERVIEW

DISPERSIBLE TABLETS: AN OVERVIEW Naveen Kumar*, Sonia Pahuja Swami Vivekanand College of Pharmacy, Banur, Punjab, India ABSTRACT The new drug delivery system helps to achieve better patient compliance. Rapid dispersible tablets are one of these. Dispersible Tablets has benefits such as accurate dosing, easy transportability and fabrication, good physical and chemical stability and an ideal alternative for pediatric and geriatric patients. The oral route of drug administration remains the most ideal route because of its various advantages, including ease of ingestion, pain evasion, versatility and, above all, patient compliance. The tablets and capsules are the most common solid dosage forms. On the other hand, many elderly people will have struggles to take the conventional solid dosage forms (tablets and capsules), due to dysphasia. Swallowing complications are also common in children’s because of their underdeveloped mucosal system. Other groups that may have trouble swallowing a solid dosage form are the psychologically ill, the developmentally disabled, and the non-cooperative patients. In certain circumstances, such as motion sickness, the sudden episode of an allergic attack or cough and the lack of water availability, the ingestion of tablets can be difficult. To meet these medicinal requirements, the pharmaceutical scientist has devoted significant effort to the development of a new type of dosage form for oral administration, the fast dispersible/ rapid dispersible tablets, and a tablet that disintegrates and dissolves rapidly in saliva without the requirement of water. Keywords: Dispersible tablets, orodispersible tablets, rapid dispersible tablets Full Text Article

Effects of mulching and zinc on physiological responses and yield of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum) under high altitude cold desert condition

In arid regions of the world, drought stress, lack of water availability and micro nutrient deficient sandy soils affect normal growth and development of plants resulted in poor growth and yield. The aim of the study was to evaluate combined effects of mulching and zinc application on growth, physiological responses and yield of capsicum (Capsicum annuum L.) under high altitude cold desert conditions. Field experiment was conducted in the cold desert environment of trans-Himalayan Ladakh region with five levels of zinc (ZnSO4), viz. 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 kg ha-1 with and without polythene mulching during 2013 and 2014 cropping season. Results showed that mulching with zinc significantly improved leaves membrane stability index (MSI) and relative water content (RWC) and also helped in reducing leaf water loss (LWL) and electrolyte leakage (EL) indicating better plant physiological responses. Significant improvement in leaf chlorophyll content was also observed. Both mulching and zinc application remarkably enhanced plant growth characters and capsicum yield. But, during 2014, sudden decrease in minimum and maximum temperature at flowering and fruiting stage adversely affected proper fruit set and its development resulting into poor capsicum yield. Application of mulch also reduced irrigation water requirement of plants. Knowledge from the present study indicated that combined application of ZnSO4 and mulching could be the feasible strategy against weather abnormality, water savings and obtaining better yield of vegetables grown in zinc deficient sandy soils of arid regions.