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Rice (Oryza sativa) is a staple food of more than half of the population of the world and provides food security and livelihoods for millions of population. Direct seeding of rice (DSR) refers to the process of direct sowing the seeds in the field rather than by transplanting seedlings from the nursery. Direct seeded rice is an age old practice and before the introduction of green revolution in India. Rainfed rice was often broadcasted into moist soil and crops were highly prone to weed competition resulted into low yield. Rice ecosystems and establishment methods determined the weed spectrum and degree of infestation in rice field (DSR). Weeds are considered as a major biological constraint in direct seeded rice. In direct seeded rice, weed management depend on weed flora, critical period of weed control, availability of water and method to be adopted. Integrated weed management (IWM) is essential to achieve the long term, sustainable and economic management of weeds in direct seeded rice. The literature regarding the direct seeded rice, critical period of crop weed competition, different types of weed flora and different methods for the effective and sustainable management of weeds in direct seeded rice are reviewed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The naturally abundant Microcystis surrounded by a slime layer has been immobilized as biofilm on a polymer-modified silica gel to obtain a lead-selective robust column packing material which is recyclable for 70 times without any distinct deterioration. The biosorbent has shown quantitative sorption with a preconcentration factor of 83 for trace level lead ion (initial concentration 0.48 microg ml(-1)) in multielemental/natural water samples at pH 5.0 and flow rate 1.0 ml min(-1).

Background and Aims: To study the role of MR Imaging in evaluating both normal and injured lateral collateral ligaments of the ankle., Materials and Methods: Twenty-four patients with clinically diagnosed inversion injury to the ankle and 20 healthy volunteers underwent Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the ankle with special emphasis on the lateral complex ligaments., Results: The anterior talofibular (ATFL) and posterior talofibular ligaments (PTFL) were identified in 100% of the ankles of normal volunteers in the axial plane. The PTFL was identified in 100% in the coronal plane. The calcaneofibular ligament (CFL) was identified in 76% of the ankles in the axial, 84% in the coronal and 88% in the sagittal plane. Of the 24 patients with inversion injury, MRI showed ligament abnormalities in 16 patients, ten of these were isolated ATFL tears, five had combined ATFL and CFL tears and one case showed in addition abnormal signal in the PTFL. MRI revealed associated injuries to other ligaments and other soft tissue and osseous structures of the ankle in twelve patients., Conclusion: MRI is a non-invasive, accurate technique for evaluation of the normal and injured lateral collateral ligaments of the ankle.