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Herein, paper mill waste sludge (PMS) from two different sources has been investigated to extract calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2 by a facile and inexpensive extraction process. This green process exploits typical chemical precipitation (CP) in an aqueous medium at room temperature to develop an economically and industrially viable technique for the effective utilization of calcium-containing waste sludge. PMS samples, collected from local paper mill plants of Bangladesh, were the main precursors wherein HCl and NaOH were utilized for chemical treatment. The as-synthesized products were analyzed by a variety of characterization tools including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) elemental analyses. Our studies confirm that the extracted product contains Ca(OH)2 as a major content, albeit it also includes CaCO3 phase formed owing to the inescapable carbonation process from the surrounding environment. The particle size of the synthesized products is in the range of 450 - 500 nm estimated from SEM micrographs. The crystallite domain size of the same estimated from XRD analyses and was found to be ~47 nm and ~31 nm respectively for product-A and product-B considering major (101) Bragg peak of Ca(OH)2. The yield percentage of the isolated products is about 65% for samples collected from both sources.

Field experiment was carried out at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research institute, Joydebpur, Gazipur during 2010 to 2011 to identify suitable legume crops with maize in maize + legume intercropping systems for better weed suppression, productivity and economic benefits in Rabi season. There were 17 treatments of which two sole crop of hybrid maize (Zea mays BARI Hybrid bhutta -9) (weed free and no weeding), three weed free sole crops of pea (SN), bushbean (SN) and cowpea (SN) in Rabi season, and their intercropping. Twelve intercropping with different weeding regimes (no weeding, one hand weeding at 20 days after emergence (DAE), one hand weeding at 40 DAE, and two hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAE of maize-legume intercropping under normal row (75 cm Î 25 cm), and two rows of legumes in between two rows of maize were used . Among all intercropping, maize-pea with two hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAE gave the lowest (6.57 g m-2 at harvest) weed dry weight and the highest weed control efficiency (86% at harvest). Maize-pea with two hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAE gave the highest yield (maize: 7.58 t ha-1; 6.27 t ha-1 pea), resource complementarily and profitability (LER = 1.89, BCR = 4.19). Intercropping of two rows of pea in between two rows of maize with two hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAE to be a promising practice for weed suppression and profitable maize + legume intercropping in Rabi season. Bangladesh Agron. J. 2018, 21(2): 33-44

Fabrication of hybrid hydrogels to improve biological properties or to decrease the disadvantages of biomaterials has been a popular approach. With the background of snowballing threat of skin wound to public health and economy, this study was undertaken utilizing xanthan gum (Xnt), citric acid (C), gelatin (Gel), glutaraldehyde (G) and HPLC-grade water to fabricate a series of composite hydrogels i.e. Xnt, Xnt:C, Xnt:Gel(3):G, Xnt:C:Gel(3):G, Xnt:Gel(5):G, Xnt:C:Gel(5):G for investigating their wound healing efficacy in experimental rat skin wound model. Physicochemical characterization revealed that all the composite hydrogels contained more than 90% water. The hydrogels displayed swelling ability, biodegradability, good polymeric networks and porosity. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) studies confirmed the presence of bound water and free, intra and inter molecular bound hydrogen bonded OH and NH in the hydrogels. All the hydrogels showed significant wound healing potency in experimental deep second degree skin burns in rats compared to controls. 20 days post-application of hydrogels, Xnt:Gel(3):G, Xnt:Gel(5):G and Xnt:C:Gel(5):G-treated wounds showed better recovery compared to other composite hydrogels. The highest wound contraction of these hydrogel composites might be due to presence of Gel in the formulations. We conclude that, Xnt:Gel(3):G, Xnt:Gel(5):G and Xnt:C:Gel(5):G might be effective wound dressing material.

Potato is one of the most important vegetable crop in Bangladesh which made it 7th producer in the world. This vegetable crop is affected by one of the most notorious soil borne pathogen, Ralstonia solanacearum and caused wilt symptoms in plant and brown rot in potato tuber throughout the world. The pathogen entered into the plants through different natural opening and wounds and is easily disseminated via infected biological material (seeds, vegetatively propagative materials, plants etc.), soil, contaminated irrigation water, surface water, farm equipment etc. and could survive for many years in association with alternate hosts. The bacteria is a quarantine organism being economically a serious problem for potatoes and other major crops in many tropical, subtropical and warmer areas of the world. It has an unusually wide host range including economically important crops (potato, tomato, tobacco, banana, ginger, geranium etc.) and weeds. The disease appeared as rapid and fatal wilting symptoms in the potato plants and vascular browning and/or rotting on tubers. The pathogen can be detected through the isolation of the bacteria on semi-selective TZC and/or selective SMSA (modified) media and through different biochemical tests and/or molecular test. It is a Gram-negative type bacterium, subdivided into five races based on host range and race I biovar 3 is reported in Bangladesh. Direct yield losses caused by R. solanacearum may vary 33 to 90% depending on the different factors such as cultivar, climate, soil type, cropping pattern, strain of the bacteria etc. Due to the latent infection of tuber by this organism, Bangladesh had been facing a temporary embargo on potato export which was imposed by Russia during 2014-15. But, latency and some other survival strategy of the pathogen created much more problems with disease detection, control and dispersal. The biological features of this pathogen makes it unusually successful against the traditional management practices. Therefore, the review focused on the biological abilities of R. solanacearum in relation to dispersal, survival and influences which might be important in designing effective management against the pathogen. [Fundam Appl Agric 2018; 3(1.000): 407-421]

Herein, we have investigated the reinforcing potential of starch and cellulose pulp in a matrix of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Polyvinyl alcohol, starch, and pulp fibers having different compositions were constructed in order to achieve better reinforced composite films. Various techniques were utilized for extract the physical, mechanical as well as thermal properties. The magnitudes of tensile strength were reduced with rising of starch content in PVA. Tensile strength values of (PVA + starch) mixtures were enhanced with the enhancement of pulp fibers content. The properties of bulk density and water absorption revealed the significant impact of starch and pulp fibers. The obtained result of thermal stability of PVA was superior which was reduced by addition of starch content; therefore, regained with the insertion of pulp fibers content in PVA–starch matrix.

Mixed crop cultivation of lentil and rapeseed could be a promising technology for yield maximization. The field experiment was carried out at multilocation testing site, Kashinathpur, Pabna during the rabi season of 2011-12 and 2012-13 to verify the performance of rapeseed as mixed crop with lentil at different seeding ratios. The treatment comprises for the experiment were T 1 : Sole lentil (100%), T 2 : Sole rapeseed (100%), T 3 : Lentil (100%) + Rapeseed (10%), T 4 : Lentil (100%) + Rapeseed (20%), T 5 : Lentil (100%) + Rapeseed (30%) and T 6 :Farmers’ practice :Lentil (100%) + Rapeseed (15%). The highest lentil equivalent yield (2.22 t ha -1 in and 2.48 ) and maximum land equivalent ratios (1.27 and 1.28) were observed in T 4 treatment in 2011-12 and 2012-13, respectively.. It was noted that all the mixed cropping systems produced higher equivalent yield and LER than that of their corresponding sole crops. . Cost and return analysis showed that the highest net return (Tk. 127774 ha -1 ) was found in T 4 treatment while sole rapeseed gave the lowest net return (Tk. 60540 ha -1 ). Net return was always higher under mixed cropping system than that of sole cropping. The highest benefit cost ratio 3.48 was recorded from Lentil (100%) + Rapeseed (20%) where as the minimum (1.39) from soli rapeseed. Bangladesh Agron. J. 2014, 17(1): 33-40

An Experiment was conducted in the laboratory of the Division of Entomology, Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA), Mymensingh to evaluate the efficacy of four indigenous plants parts such as leaves of raintree (Albizia saman), riot lata (Mikania micrantha), pithraj (Aphanamixis polystachya) and seeds of mahogani (Swietenia macrophylla) with methanol extracts at the rates of 10.0, 7.5, 5.0 and 2.5% for their direct toxicity against the pulse beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis (L.). Among the four plants extracts tested, pithraj leaf showed the highest (52.28%) mean repellency effect followed by riot lata (Mikania) leaf extract (46.07%), mahogani seed extract (38.79%) and raintree leaf extract (25.13%). On the basis of mean repellency rate, it was found that mahogany seed, pithraj leaf and riot lata (Mikania) leaf extracts were in the same repellency class i.e. Class Ill and except raintree leaf (Class II).DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jesnr.v7i2.22224 J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 7(2): 151-154 2014

Experiments were conducted in the laboratory of the Division of Entomology, Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA), Mymensingh to evaluate the efficacy of four indigenous plants parts such as leaves of raintree (Albizia saman), riot lata (Mikania micrantha), pithraj (Aphanamixis polystachya) and seeds of mahogani (Swietenia macrophylla) with methanol extracts at the rates of 10.0, 7.5, 5.0 and 2.5% for their direct toxicity against the pulse beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis (L.). The experiments were set up following Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The results showed that extracts of all the plant parts had very close efficacy in relation to direct toxicity effect and grain protection values. Pithraj leaf extract showed the highest mortality (96.66%) action and raintree leaf extract showed the lowest (80.33%) with 10% extract at 5 DAT. The effectiveness of all the plant extracts were found to increase with the increase of doses and decreased proportionatelly with the increase of timeDOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jesnr.v7i2.22206 J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 7(2): 65-67 2014

With the background of snowballing threat of skin wound to public health and economy, this study was undertaken utilizing xanthan gum (Xnt), citric acid (C), gelatin (Gel), glutaraldehyde (G) and HPLC-grade water to fabricate a series of composite hydrogels i.e. Xnt, Xnt:C, Xnt:Gel(3):G, Xnt:C:Gel(3):G, Xnt:Gel(5):G, Xnt:C:Gel(5):G for investigating their wound healing efficacy in experimental rat skin wound model. Physicochemical characterization revealed that all the composite hydrogels contained more than 90% water. The hydrogels displayed swelling ability, biodegradability, good polymeric networks and porosity. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) studies confirmed the presence of bound water and free, intra and inter molecular bound hydrogen bonded OH and NH in the hydrogels. All the hydrogels showed significant wound healing potency in experimental deep second degree skin burns in rats compared to controls. 20 days post-application of hydrogels, Xnt:Gel(3):G, Xnt:Gel(5):G and Xnt:C:Gel(5):G-treated wounds showed better recovery compared to other composite hydrogels. We conclude that, Xnt:Gel(3):G, Xnt:Gel(5):G and Xnt:C:Gel(5):G might be effective wound dressing material.

In recent nanotechnology is the most promising field for the researchers. This paper describes a simple and convenient procedure for the preparation of crystalline silver nanoparticles. The aggregation of silver nanoparticles was prevented by CH3COONa in a chemical bath and then washed away, leaving crystalline silver nanoparticles. The silver nanoparticles were synthesized by sol-gel technique in the presence of CH3COONa and hydrazine as reducing agent in water at room temperature. The structure and grain size of prepared particles were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscope and X-ray Diffraction. The whole experiment has been carried out at room temperature, using water as solvent and also within very less time. From XRD pattern we got the crystallinity and the position of the crystal plane of the prepared particles was similar to the standard nano silver pattern and the average size of the particles was 11nm. For SEM study it was observed that the particles are homogenous and uniform size in the nano range cracked free surfaces with regular granular shaped grains without any impurities. There was no peak in the carbonyl frequency region confirmed that sodium acetate was not present within the silver particles. From STA study, we have observed that the weight loss was negligible assured the particles were pure. Hence we will describe an excellent scope for large scale production of silver nanocrystals which will have applications in electronics and catalysis.