Showing papers by "Jayanta Kumar Datta published in 2014"

Indoor pollution from solid biomass fuel and rural health damage: A micro-environmental study in rural area of Burdwan, West Bengal

Abstract: Emissions from biomass combustion are a major source of indoor and outdoor air pollution, and are estimated to cause millions of premature deaths worldwide annually. In this study, we assessed the effect of exposure to biomass smoke on various health status including blood pressure, gaseous component and ventilation pattern of kitchen and living room. For this investigation, a number of measurements were done to obtain indoor air quality (IAQ) data (indoor humidity, temperature, CO, CO2 and O3 concentration). Blood pressure was measured at baseline and one hour post-exposure. Results highlighted that a higher concentration of CO2 was released during burning of dry leaf, straw, cow dung compared to that from straw and LPG gas. Moreover, correlation study showed a strong negative relationship between CO and humidity (r = −0.609, p

Evaluation of integrated nutrient management on boro rice in alluvial soil and its impacts upon growth, yield attributes, yield and soil nutrient status

Abstract: A field trial was conducted during 2009 to 2011 to study the effect of inorganic fertilizer, vermicompost, phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and Azotobacter on the yield of boro rice (winter rice) and its impacts upon soil nutrient status and grain uptake. The highest yield attributes were recorded with full recommended dose of inorganic fertilizer along with vermicompost at 2.5 t ha−1, PSB and Azotobacter, which was at par with 75% of inorganic fertilizer along with vermicompost at 2.5 t ha−1 and PSB and Azotobacter. Application of PSB and Azotobacter significantly increased available phosphorus and nitrogen in soil. Uptake of micronutrients in grain was in the order of Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu. Micronutrient status in soil was also significantly influenced by the different doses of inorganic, organic and biofertilizers.

Characterization of fluoride-tolerant halophilic Bacillus flexus NM25 (HQ875778) isolated from fluoride-affected soil in Birbhum District, West Bengal, India.

Abstract: A new Gram-positive, nonpigmented, rod-shaped fluoride-tolerant bacterial strain, NM25, was isolated from waterlogged muddy field soil collected from the fluoride endemic area of Rampurhat II block (average fluoride in water, 4.7 mg/l, and in soil, 1.5 mg/kg) in Birbhum District, West Bengal, India. The study was undertaken to characterize the fluoride-tolerant bacterial isolate, to determine its role in bioaccumulation of fluoride, and to analyze the water and soil quality of the bacterial environment. The isolate was positive for catalase, lipase, urease, protease, oxidase, and H2S production, but negative for indole production, nitrate reduction, and Vogues–Proskauer test. The organisms were sensitive to recommended doses of ofloxacin, kanamycin, rifampicin, levofloxacin, vancomycin, gatifloxacin, gentamicin, doxycycline, streptomycin, and nalidixic acid but resistant to ampicillin. Based on the phenotypic characteristics, 16S rRNA gene sequence, and phylogenetic analysis, the bacterial isolate NM25 was identified as Bacillus flexus. The G+C content of the 16S rDNA was 53.14 mol%. This strain tolerated up to 20 % (w/v) NaCl in nutrient agar medium and was grown at the pH range 4–12. It reduced fluoride concentration up to 67.45 % and tolerated more than 1,500 ppm of fluoride in brain–heart infusion agar medium.

Vulnerability of bus and truck drivers affected from vehicle engine noise

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to find out the vulnerability of bus and truck drivers due to constant exposure of vehicle-engine noise inside the vehicle cabin. Comparative results revealed that noise levels inside the cabin of buses and trucks were in the range of 88.6–102.4 dB and 87.95–103.4 dB, respectively. The health status of bus and truck drivers was assessed by measuring their systolic and diastolic pressure, pulse rate, BMI, digestion problem, hearing loss, vision problem, back pain and irritation. Paired t-test of the results revealed non-significant (p

Soil enzyme activities in dependence on tree litter and season of a social forest, Burdwan, India

Abstract: The study was done to evaluate enzyme activities (amylase, cellulase and invertase) from the soils of different vegetation sites, with seasonal variation, of social forest, Burdwan, India. Study results showed significant lower enzymatic activities in the subsoil compared to those of the topsoil. The seasonal variations indicated that amylase, cellulase and invertase enzyme activities had reached peaks during the rainy seasons in different soil depths. Amylase activity was highest in Tectona litter containing soil in all seasons in both the soil layers. All the three enzyme activities have shown significant positive correlation with available nitrogen (p < 0.05) and available phosphorous (p < 0.05) during rainy season in both the soil depths. Correlation study revealed that soil organic carbon was positively correlated with cellulase and invertase activities except in the Anacardium vegetation site in the topsoil during rainy season. Irrespective of the seasons and the depths of soil, control site without...

Impact of reduction dose, time and method of application of chemical fertilizer on mung bean under old alluvial soil, West Bengal, India.

Abstract: Field experiments were conducted with mung bean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) consecutively for three years (2009, 2010, and 2011) in the Crop Research and Seed Multiplication Farm, Burdwan University, West Bengal, India. In the first two years, varietals screening of mung bean under recommended dose of chemical fertilizer (20:40:20) were performed with five varieties with a local variety of mung bean during February to May of 2009. In the second year, one experiment was conducted with six different reduced dose of chemical fertilizer. In the third year, five different method and time of application of biofertilizer were applied to study the effects on agronomic traits and growth attributes of mung bean. The variety PDM-54 a significant higher seed yield along with other yield contributing factors, which was found to be superior to other varieties. In 2010, seed yield was found to be the best for 30% less nitrogenous and 25% less phosphate fertilizer along with recommended dose of chemical fertilizer. In 2011, the best yield was given by the treatment of basal @ 0.75 kg ha -1 + 1.5 kg ha -1 soil application after 21 days + 0.75 kg ha -1 as soil application + best dose of previous year.

Fluoride remediation using floating macrophytes

Abstract: Six aquatic macrophytes, such as Pistia stratiotes, Ceratophyllum demersum, Nymphoides indica, Lemna major, Azolla pinnata, and Eichhornia crassipes were considered for remove fluoride from aqueous solution. Five different concentrations (10, 30, 50, and 100 ppm) of fluoride solution were taken in 1 L plastic container. Fixed weight (20 g) of macrophytes along with 500 ml fluoride solution was taken in each plastic container for 72 hours observation. Results demonstrated all the macrophytes show highest fluoride removal during 24 h to 48 h, but after 72 h their efficiency reduced drastically. The species N. indica showed better removal efficiency than other experimental macrophytes. In general, pigment measurement data indicated higher concentration at 72 h. However, Pistia sp. showed higher concentration of pigmentation at intermediate time interval (48 h). Higher level of dry weight to fresh weight ratio was recorded for L. major and A. pinnata at all concentrations, excepting at 10 ppm. In addition, all macrophytes showed lower RGR at higher concentration. Isotherm study indicated that macrophyte C. demersum is a good fitted with Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm whereas L. major with Langmuir isotherm during 24 hours.

Effects of ultraviolet radiation on pigmentation and malondialdehyde content of three aquatic macrophytes

Abstract: A study has been done in order to evaluate the ill effects of UV-A,UV-B and UV-C on pigmentation and malondialdehyde content of floating macrophytes (Lemna sp., Pistia sp. and Eichhornia sp.) in one, three, and five days interval. Study results revealed that all types of ultraviolet light (UV-A, UVB, and UV-C) did not produce same extent of ill effects on the studied macrophytes. Pistia sp. and Eichhornia sp. showed similar reduction pattern of chl a/chl b ratio with respect to control. Results also suggest that among the three types of radiation only UV-B showed higher level of changes in both the pigment and malondialdehyde content. Moreover, among the three tested macrophytes only Lemna sp. showed some protective role against UV radiation compared to other to macrophytes.