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Soil salinity is an important abiotic constraint that affects soil quality and crop productivity and has a direct impact on crop yields. Ensuring the sustainable use of saline soils while maintaining environmental integrity is of utmost importance. To achieve this, it is essential to explore and implement methods that can enhance productivity without causing harm to the ecosystem. In the current study, the effect of biochar, Simultaneous inoculation of biomes (Trichoderma harzanium and Pseudomonas fluorescence) and gypsum on soil properties and growth parameters of chickpea was investigated. Of all treatments, the combination of 75 percent GR + biochar@20t/ha and biome @2kg/ha had the greatest effect on lowering pH (9.32 to 7.61), EC (3.65 to 1.6 dSm-1) and SAR (24.22 to 5.9 Cmolc (+) kg-1). As a result, there was a notable improvement in the length of chickpea shoots and roots as well as the overall production of dry matter.

Mobilization of unavailable phosphorus (P) to plant available P is a prerequisite to sustain crop productivity. Although most of the agricultural soils have sufficient amounts of phosphorus, low availability of native soil P remains a key limiting factor to increasing crop productivity. Solubilization and mineralization of applied and native P to plant available form is mediated through a number of biological and biochemical processes that are strongly influenced by soil carbon/organic matter, besides other biotic and abiotic factors. Soils rich in organic matter are expected to have higher P availability potentially due to higher biological activity. In conventional agricultural systems mineral fertilizers are used to supply P for plant growth, whereas organic systems largely rely on inputs of organic origin. The soils under organic management are supposed to be biologically more active and thus possess a higher capability to mobilize native or applied P. In this study we compared biological activity in soil of a long-term farming systems comparison field trial in vertisols under a subtropical (semi-arid) environment. Soil samples were collected from plots under 7 years of organic and conventional management at five different time points in soybean (Glycine max) -wheat (Triticum aestivum) crop sequence including the crop growth stages of reproductive significance. Upon analysis of various soil biological properties such as dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase, acid and alkaline phosphatase activities, microbial respiration, substrate induced respiration, soil microbial biomass carbon, organically managed soils were found to be biologically more active particularly at R2 stage in soybean and panicle initiation stage in wheat. We also determined the synergies between these biological parameters by using the methodology of principle component analysis. At all sampling points, P availability in organic and conventional systems was comparable. Our findings clearly indicate that owing to higher biological activity, organic systems possess equal capabilities of supplying P for crop growth as are conventional systems with inputs of mineral P fertilizers.

Magnesium oxysulphate cement (MOC, Magnesia / Sorel’s Cement), discovered by Sorel S.T. in 1867 and has versatile cementing characteristics. It is prepared by the reaction of magnesium sulphate with magnesia in aqueous solution. Dolomite is used as inert filler to absorb the heat evolved during the exothermic formations of oxysulphate cement. Additives play an important role to modify the properties of Sorel’s cement by nullifying the harmful effects of the impurities present in the matrix. Incorporation of Portland cement in increasing quantities in magnesium oxysulphate cement improves the compressive strength of the cement remarkably. Water tightness of Sorel’s cement increases with the increase in quantities of the additive (15%, 20%). Portland cement accelerates initial setting process and retards final setting process of oxysulpahte cement. An insignificant contraction in the length of the trial beams after mixing Portland cement in oxysulphate cement was an encouraging finding of the study.

This study deals with the statistical analysis and study of water quality index to assess hardness of groundwater in Todaraisingh tehsil of Tonk district of Rajasthan state. The study has been carried out to examine its suitability for drinking, irrigation and industrial purpose. The presence of problematic salts contains in groundwater due to local pollutants and affected the groundwater quality adversely. The estimated values were compared with drinking water quality standards prescribed by B.I.S. It was found that drinking water is severely polluted with hardness causing salts. This study reveals that people dependent on water sources of the study area are prone to health hazards of contaminated water and quality managements to hardness urgently needed.

Background & objectives: In India, the burden of Plasmodium vivax malaria has been projected to be highest in some areas. This study investigated the efficacy and safety of fixed dose combination (FDC) of arterolane maleate (AM) 37.5 mg and piperaquine phosphate 187.5 mg (PQP) dispersible tablets and (not with) chloroquine in the treatment of uncomplicated vivax malaria in pediatric patients. Methods: This multicentric, open-label trial was carried out at 12 sites in India. A total of 164 patients aged 6 months to 12 years with P. vivax malaria were randomized in a ratio of 2:1 to AM-PQP (111 patients) or chloroquine (53 patients) arms. The duration of follow up was 42 days. Results: At 72 hours, the proportion of a parasitaemic and afebrile patients was 100% in both treatment arms in per protocol (PP) population, and 98.2% and 100% [95% CI: -1.8 (-6.33 to 5.08)] in AM-PQP and chloroquine arms, respectively, in intent to treat (ITT) population. The efficacy and safety of AM-PQP was found to be comparable to chloroquine in the treatment of uncomplicated P. vivax malaria in pediatric patients. Overall, the cure rate at Day 28 and 42 was >95% for both AM-PQP or CQ. The commonly reported clinical adverse event was vomiting. No patient was discontinued for any QTc abnormality. Interpretation & conclusion: The efficacy and safety of FDC of arterolane maleate and piperaquine phosphate was found to be comparable to chloroquine for treatment of uncomplicated P. vivax malaria in pediatric patients.