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Assessment of soil fertility is essential to help identify strategies for sustainable agricultural production systems that decrease the negative environmental impact. The objective of this research study is to carry out a preliminary assessment of soil fertility status to adopt climate-smart agriculture to address the climate change challenges that adversely affect crop productivity and livelihoods of the farming community. The research was carried out in Mambattu village, Maduranthakam block of Kanchipuram district, Tamil Nadu. A systematic set of twenty geo-referenced soil samples were collected from the study village using GPS (Global Positioning System) and analysed for pH, EC, available macro, secondary and micronutrients to develop a credible soil fertility index (SFI). The preliminary fertility data of Mambattu village revealed that the pH of soil samples varied from acidic to alkaline with about 40% as neutral while the electrical conductivity showed non-saline and medium status of Organic Carbon (OC). The soil samples were predominantly sufficient in N and some micro nutrients (Fe, Mn), while medium in S and B and deficient in P, K, Ca, Mg, Zn and Cu. Results from initial studies indicate that practices like site specific nutrient management, green manuring, use of organic inputs, use of integrated pest management, seed treatment etc., have a high potential for implementing climate-smart agricultural technologies. Soil fertility evaluation can be an efficient tool to improve soil health which can positively impact crop productivity and be one of the important climate-smart technologies practices adopted by the farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the use of medicinal plants for disease treatment has been limited due to widely prevailing toxicity of medicinal plants and their source soil. The major reason for the toxicity in plants might be due to their mineral and chemical content and also related with the toxic materials present in the source soil. The aim of this study was to assess the aluminum contamination in Mettur, an industrial town of Tamil Nadu, India which has many Al industries. Total Al content in the soil of the region where medicinal plants were cultivated was found to be 16700 mg kg-1 . Further, Al content in commonly used medicinal plants Centella asiatica, Bacopa monneri and Euphorbia hirta grown in Al polluted soil was studied. The Al concentration of the medicinal plants ranged from 449 to 801 mg kg-1. All the three plants were found to accumulate level of Al which is above the maximum permissible limits prescribed by World Health Organization and thus, it may cause Al toxicity among the consumers of herbal medicines. From the results of the present study, it is inferred that the medicinal plants used for the human consumption or disease management should be collected from clean environment and processed carefully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A synthesis of the tetrahydropyran (THP) moiety of bistramide D has been completed by using cross-metathesis and kinetically controlled intramolecular oxa-Michael addition to form the ring with excellent trans selectivity. The C9 methyl substituent was introduced by using an unsaturated sulfone building block, which can be most effectively prepared through a combination of diastereoselective allylation and alkene isomerisation. The effect of this methyl group on subsequent cross-metathesis reactions can be mitigated by careful choice of reaction conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The synthesis of a model of the bistramide D tetrahydropyran ring is achieved using a selective cross-metathesis and an intramolecular Michael addition under kinetic control. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The total synthesis of a natural product noreremophilane has been achieved in just three steps from readily available starting materials. A highly stereo- and regio-selective Diels–Alder reaction was the key step in our synthesis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]