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Owing to the expensive and toxic nature of physical and chemical methods employed in the synthesis of commercially available metal nanoparticles used in wood protection, researchers are in search o...

A field experiment was conducted during Kharif 2006 on a vertisol to study the effect of potassium and sulphur on yield and yield parameters of onion and chilli intercrops grown with four levels of potassium (0, 50, 75 and 100 kg K2O ha-1) and three levels of sulphur (0, 15 and 30 kg S ha-1). Yield and yield attributes of onion and chilli increased with the individual application of 100 kg K2O ha-1 and 30 kg S ha-1. The combined application of 100 K2O and 30 kg S ha-1 recorded the maximum yield of both onion (19.52 t ha-1) and chilli (3.90 q ha-1) and also onion equivalent yield (23.42 t ha-1) of the intercropping system

Nanoparticles have addressed many challenges in science and technology and wood science research is one such field that has benefitted from application of metal nanoparticles. The metal nanoparticles that are commercially available for wood protection are synthesised by physical and chemical methods which produces toxic by-products and are expensive. The current study deals with a new approach for utilization of metal nanoparticle for wood protection in an ecofriendly and cost effective way. Metal nanoparticles were synthesised using plant extracts that are known to have wood preservative properties. The synergistic effects of the intrinsic property of plant extracts along with the biocidal property of metal nanoparticles were utilized. Copper oxide nanoparticles were synthesised using leaf extracts of Neem (Azadirachta indica), Pongamia (Pongamia pinnata), Lantana (Lantana camara) and extract of orange peel (Citrus reticulata). The effectiveness of the synthesised plant extract and copper oxide nanoparticle formulation is tested against wood decay fungi using agar mixed with the test substance. Graveyard test is employed to assess the effect of the copper oxide nanoparticle formulation against termites. Preliminary results are promising and studies are progressing to develop a stable and environmentally benign wood preservative formulation of metal nanoparticles and plant extracts.

A field experiment was conducted during Kharif 2006 on black clay soil to study the effect of potassium and sulphur on onion and chilli intercrops in a vertisol with four levels of potassium (0, 50, 75 and 100 kg K 2 O ha ?1 ) and three levels of sulphur (0, 15 and 30 kg S ha ?1 ). The significantly higher uptake of N, P, K and S by onion plant as well as shoot and fruit portion of chilli were observed with the individual application of potassium @ 100 kg K 2 O ha ?1 and sulphur @ 30 kg S ha ?1 .

A field experiment was conducted during Kharif 2006 on black clay soil to study the effect of potassium and sulphur on onion and chilli intercrops in a vertisol with four levels of potassium (0, 50, 75 and 100 kg K 2 O ha ?1 ) and three levels of sulphur (0, 15 and 30 kg S ha ?1 ). Quality parameters of both onion and chilli increased with the individual application of 100 kg K 2 O ha ?1 and 30 kg S ha ?1 . The quality parameters of onion like pyruvic acid content, total soluble solids and keeping quality and the quality parameters of chilli like total extractable colour and ascorbic acid content were recorded maximum with the combined application of 100 kg K 2 O plus 30 kg S ha ?1 .