Naogaon District Research Articles

Food and Feeding Habit of Cyprinus carpio var. specularis

The study was carried out from November 2010 to August 2011. A total of 137 specimens of Cyprinus carpio var. specularis were collected from Naogaon municipal fish market, Shabi hat fish market, Niamatpur fish market and directly from the culture pond of Naogaon district The month-wise collection and experiments were made to show the seasonal variation in food choice, and feeding habit of the fish. The highest percentage of empty stomach was in the month of April 2011 (56.67%) and the lowest percentage of empty stomach was in the month of August 2011 (26.32%). The highest percentage of full stomachs was found in the month of August 2011 (73.68%) and the lowest percentage of full stomachs was found in April 2011 (43.33%). The analysis of stomach contents of C. carpio var. specularis revealed that the food of the fish consists of aquatic plant parts (20.12%), phytoplankton (16.46%), zooplankton (19.69%), debris and detritus (22.00%), insects (6.78%) and semi-digested materials (14.83%). The highest percentage (33.26%) of aquatic plant parts were observed in June 2011 and the lowest percentage (8.80%) in December 2010. The average total length was 37.83±6.96 cm and the average alimentary canal length was 100.63±7.89 cm. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jsf.v9i1-2.14658 J. Sci. Foundation, 9(1&2): 163-169, June-December 2011

Reconstructing late Holocene palaeoenvironments in Bangladesh: phytolith analysis of archaeological soils from Somapura Mahavihara site in the Paharpur area, Badalgacchi Upazila, Naogaon District, Bangladesh

Palaeoenvironmental reconstruction based on phytolith analysis of late Holocene-aged soils in and around the Somapura Mahavihara archaeological monastery site in the Paharpur area, Badalgacchi Upazila of Naogaon District in northwestern Bangladesh was undertaken. Results indicate five climate zones marked by alternatively cool and temperate events. The phytolith assemblages of Zones 1, 3 and 5 are clearly characterized by a higher proportion of Pooideae phytoliths. The climate indices for these zones are all greater than 50, indicating cooler climatic conditions. In contrast, the phytolith assemblages of Zones 2 and 4 are typified by a higher proportion of Panicoideae phytoliths; their climate indices are 42 and 44, respectively, indicating the presence of a warmer, more temperate climate. In general, the dominance of grasses over broad- leaved trees throughout the sequences suggests that generally cool to temperate and dry conditions with some cyclical variability persisted around Paharpur and the surrounding region throughout the Pala Dynasty from AD 730 to 1080. The question of whether these shifts in vegetation might be linked with El Niño Southern Oscillation events, and whether these might in turn have cultural responses, is raised.

Clay mineralogy of archaeological soil: an approach to paleoclimatic and environmental reconstruction of the archaeological sites of the Paharpur area, Badalgacchi upazila, Naogaon district, Bangladesh

A geo-archaeological examination was carried out in and around the Paharpur area, Badalgacchi upazila of Naogaon District in the north-western part of Bangladesh. Clay mineralogy and global paleo-temperature curves were used to determine the paleoclimatic and depositional environmental conditions of the Holocene archaeological soils (Barind clay residuum) of the Paharpur archaeological spot. Clay mineralogical data show that the dominant clay mineral is illite with subordinate amounts of kaolinite and chlorite. The high illite and low kaolinite content implies a marine or estuarine deposit. The clay mineral ratio log diagram, constructed by plotting the 7–10°A integrated intensity ratios versus depth, supports this assumption. The presence of illite, together with quartz and feldspar, suggests high detrital input under generally cool to temperate and dry climates. Chlorite is another common by-product of weathering reactions with low hydrolysis, which is typical for cool to temperate and dry climates. The results suggest the existence of a marine–estuarine influence under a generally cool to temperate and dry climates around Paharpur and the surrounding region throughout the Pala dynasty around mid-century 700 a.d. to early 1100 a.d. Furthermore, this observation is consistent with the global paleo-temperature curves.

An Economic Assessment of Different Threshing Methods for Rice in Bangladesh

Threshing is one of the most important post harvest operation of grains. Along with Traditional threshing, mechanical threshing methods such as, Pedal threshing, Open-drum power threshing and Power threshing are being used in Bangladesh. ln this study different cost, capacities and ratios of the threshing methods were calculated and compared along with different economic and financial indicators to appraise financial profitability of these methods. Data were collected from a sample of 50 farmers of Barshanta village of Atrai Upazila under Naogaon District. Mean values of this data were used for various calculations in this study. The operating cost of Pedal threshing (30.173 Tk/hr was found lower and followed by Power threshing (53.5 Tk/hr, Traditional threshing (84.67 Tk/hr) and Open-drum power threshing (122.09 Tk/hr). The throughput capacity of Open-drum power threshing (1158.40 kg/hr) was found significantly higher in compare to other threshing methods and Traditional threshing (74.94 kglhr) method appeared as lowest. The throughput cost of Power threshing (0.073 Tk/kg) and Pedal threshing (0.089 Tk/kg) were found almost same and appeared as economic. The throughput cost of Open-drum power threshing (0.112 Tk/kg) was found close to those throughputs cost and was significantly lower than Traditional threshing. The Benefit-Cost Ratio of Power threshing (1.4) was found highest followed by Pedal threshing (1.325), Open-drum power threshing (1.228) and Traditional threshing (1.02). Gross Margin of Traditional threshing (63.05 Tk/hr) was found significantly greater and followed by Power threshing (35.96 Tk/hr), Open drum power threshing (35.5 Tk/hr) and Pedal threshing (15.16 Tk/hr). Whereas, Net Margin of Open-drum power threshing (27.92Tk/hr) was found highest and Traditional threshing (2.13 Tk/hr) was lowest. The substitution proposition by partial budget analysis showed clear superiority of Open-drum power threshing over other threshing methods, and incurred net gains. Considering various costs ratios and financial indicators along with present socio-economic status and facilities available to farmers, Open-drum power threshing and Power threshing may have been considered as most promising threshing method for the farmers of Bangladesh.

Role of Antihelminthic Drug and Health Education in Reducing Helminthic Infestation Rate Among the Rural Children

Intestinal Helminthiasis is one of the major causes of childhood malnutrition in Bangladeshi rural children. This case control study was undertaken to observe the comparative role of antihelminthic drug and Health Education in reducing the Incidence rate of helminthic infestation in rural primary school children. Three Primary schools were selected in different union of Dhamoirhat thana in Naogaon district. Saline preparation of stool of all students in three schools were done in first week of May, August and November 1997 blindly. Tablet Mebendazole was given only to the students with positive finding of stool for helminthic ova in first school (D R School). After each examinations, health education was conducted in the second school (H E School) one hour weekly since the beginning of the study irrespective of findings and no intervention was done in the third school (C O School) taken as control group. Quarter yearly (in three months) incidence rate in D R School were 8.1% and 8.3%, in H E School were 14.5% and 23.5% and in C O School were 9.1% and 18.3% (in population at risk) in the study. Analysis shows the significant role of anti helminthic drug in reducing the incidence rate besides the prevalence than health education (P value 0.0007). Recommendation was made to continue the mass deworming program as it reduces the reservoirs despite the environmental factors sufficiently enough for transmission of the disease in Bangladesh perspective. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/taj.v14i2.8389 TAJ 2001; 14(2): 70-73

Fisheries eco-biology of beel Koshba in Naogaon District

The physical conditions of Beel Koshba consisting of water temperature(25.36±5.12°C/day), water depth (204.96±110.36cm/month) and water transparency (30.91±6.78cm/day) were recorded. The chemical parameters of total hardness, alkalinity, pH, DO, CO2 andammonia were 146.60±13.36 mg/l, 143.30±9.33 mg/l, 7.05±0.75, 6.03±1.08 mg/l, 8.64±0.88 mg/land 0.73±0.31 mg/l respectively. A total of 54 species of different vegetations 123 species ofphytoplankton and 73 species of zooplankton were recorded from the beel. A total of 104 speciesof fish and Annelids (8), arthropods (12), molluscs (15), amphibian (8), reptiles (21), avis (40) andmammals (12) were identified. Pesticidal toxic effluents contexts were also observed in the beelecosystem.Key words: Fisheries; Eco-Biology; Beel KoshbaDOI: 10.3329/ujzru.v28i0.5283Univ. j. zool. Rajshahi Univ. Vol. 28, 2010 pp. 33-39

A comparative study on reproductive performance and productivity of the Black Bengal and Crossbred goat at Atrai, Bangladesh

The present investigation was carried out to detect the status of different productive and reproductive parameters of Black Bengal and Crossbred goats at Bandaikhara village under Atrai Upazilla of Naogaon district during the period of September to December/2005. The average age at first sign of heat of Black Bengal goats was better than that of Crossbred goats. In Black Bengal goat the average age at first kidding was 360.5±10 days, whereas, in crossbred goats it was 411.5±15.5 day. Significantly (P<0.01) lower the post partum heat period in Black Bengal goat than the crossbred goat. The average kidding interval in Black Bengal and Crossbred goats were 179±20 and 270±22 days respectively and differences are statistically significant (P<0.01). The usual numbers of kids at one time in Black Bengal goats vary from single to quadruplet. On the other hand, litter size of crossbred goat was single or twin. The average birth weight of Black Bengal goat was lower than Crossbred goats, which are statistically significant (P<0.05). The average body weight gain after 365 days is better in Crossbred than Black Bengal goats and statistically significant (P<0.01). The average milk yield in Crossbred goat was 1.05 liter/day, whereas, in Black Bengal goat, it produces milk that only nourished its kids. It was concluded that the reproductive performance like early maturity, larger litter size, shorter postpartum period, minimum kidding interval are better in Black Bengal goat. On the other hand productive performance like higher birth weight, maximum body weight gain, high milk yield, longer lactation length are suitable in crossbred goat. 
 
 Key words: Black Bengal goat, Crossbred goat, Production, Reproduction, Performance 
 
 Univ. j. zool. Rajshahi Univ. Vol. 26, 2007. pp. 55-57