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Kaushal Pratap Singh , Rekha Yadav , Seema Bhadauria

Abstract

Acacia nilotica is fast growing, drought resistant, multipurpose legume tree species occurring in semi-arid and arid zones of the world. AM fungi, which constitute a group of important soil microorganisms, are known to improve the plant growth through better uptake of nutrients. A total of eight sets of experiments were conducted to analyze maximum growth and nodulation in A. nilotica. The results of present investigation showed the maximum shoot, ischolar_main height, collar diameter and dry weight of ischolar_main nodules under soil treated with AM along with phosphate and nitrogenous fertilizers. It was minimum in the soil treated only with AM fungi. In another set of experiment, the maximum number of nodules/plant and its dry weight g/plant were found under soil treated with AM along with nitrogen followed by soil treated with AM along with phosphorus and nitrogen.

Keywords

Acacia nilotica Benth., Growth and Nodulation, Mycorrhizal Fungi Inoculation,
Nutrient-treatment, Alkali Soil

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Seema Bhadauria , B. P. S. Chauhan , Archna Singh , Gautam Pahari , Sudhir Verma

Abstract

The biotechnological utilization of usar soil project in the Ishwarpur village of Mainpuri District in U.P. aims to reclaim the usar soil of village Ishwarpur by giving technical training and educating the women. Women being the primary collectors of fodder, firewood and other produce from the common lands, have a greater stake in its rehabilitation and a major role in its conservation and management. This paper describes why and how to obtain involvement of the rural women in these activities. It also presents the approaches adopted, the challenges faced and progress made in involvement of women in development programmes by the project.

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Kaushal Pratap Singh ¹, Rekha Yadav ¹, Preetesh Kumari ¹, Seema Bhadauria ¹

Affiliations
1 Microbiology Research Laboratory, Department of Botany, Raja Balwant Singh College, Agra-282 002 (Uttar-Pradesh), IN

Abstract

Acacia nilotica is fast growing, drought resistant, multipurpose legume tree species occurring in semi-arid and arid zones of the world. AM fungi, which constitute a group of important soil microorganisms, are known to improve the plant growth through better uptake of nutrients. A total of eight sets of experiments were conducted to analyze maximum biomass accumulation, phosphorus and nitrogen content in Acacia nilotica. The results of present investigation showed the maximum biomass accumulation, phosphorus and nitrogen content were achieved under soil treated with AM along with phosphate and nitrogenous fertilizers. In another set of experiment, the increased biomass accumulation, phosphorus and nitrogen content in Acacia nilotica were found under soil treated with AM along with phosphate fertilizer followed by soil treated with AM along with nitrogen fertilizer. It was comparatively lowerin soil treated only with AM fungi.

Keywords

Acacia Nilotica, Alkali Soil, Am Inoculation, Biomass Accumulation, Phosphorus, Nitrogen Content

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Prem Kumar Gautam ¹, Deveshwari Singh ², Seema Bhadauria ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Botany, G. T. P College, Nandurbar-421 254, Maharashtra, IN
2 Microbiology and Nanotechnology Laboratory, Department of Botany, R.B.S College, Agra, U. P., IN

Abstract

The very old constructions of the city of Gwalior include historical buildings like Gwalior Fort which is facing the problem of higher plant growth. The objective of this paper is to study the diversity of higher plants on old buildings and their effect on them. Gwalior fort with its various buildings was selected for this study. The qualitative analysis of the monuments showed high diversity of various higher plants. In tropical countries like India the growth of higher plants on old constructions is a serious problem as they damage constructions physically as well as chemically.

Keywords

Historical Buildings, Gwalior Fort, Angiosperms Growth, Biodeterioration.

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Deveshwari Singh ¹, Seema Bhadauria ¹

Affiliations
1 Microbiology and Nanotechnolgy Research Lab., Department of Botany, R. B. S. College, Agra-282 010, U. P., IN

Abstract

Earthworms are an important component of the soil macrofauna and represent 82% of the total biomass in tropical zones with a precipitation above 1000mm. Earthworms are soil vertebrates which play a key role in recycling of organic matter in soils. Anecic, epigeous and endogenous earthworms stimulate or inhibit the growth of bacteria of agriculture importance inside their digestive tracts. Aerobic and anaerobic bacterial count of viable microorganisms in vermicompost produced by exotic earthworm Eisenia fetida has been studied in the present paper. The vermicompost was produced by different types of wastes for example cow dung, kitchen waste, petha waste and agricultural waste. Number of bacteria was higher in earthworm casting than in ingested soil samples. Bacterial count was obtained by standard microbiological procedures on the basis of their morphological and biochemical characteristics. Results reveal that the maximum bacterial count obtained was through mixing cow dung and petha waste (75 × 10⁷ cfu/g). Isolated bacteria were identified as belonging to genus Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Flavobacterium, Vibrio, Clostridium, Mycobacterium and Azotobacter. These bacteria inhabit the soil and develop considerably when there is easily degradable organic matter.

Keywords

Vermicomposting, Eisenia fetida, Petha Waste, Earthworm Casts.

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Prem Kumar Gautam ¹, Deveshwari Singh ², Seema Bhadauria ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Botany, G.T.P College, Nandurbar-421 254, Maharashtra, IN
2 Microbiology and Nanotechnology Lab, Department of Botany, R.B.S. College, Agra, U.P., IN

Abstract

Bioremediation of pollutants containing heavy metals has been demonstrated by several biotechnologists and environmentalists. Studies have shown that fungal organisms possess the capacity of heavy metal removal. In the present investigation, a study in batch system was conducted using the fungus Agaricus bisporus as biosorbent for evaluating its potential to absorb lead (II) ions from aqueous solution. To improve the bioabsorption capacity, the biosorbent was pretreated with NaOH, Na₂CO₃ and NaHCO₃. Pretreatment with NaOH resulted in a significant improvement in bioabsorption capacity. The experimental equilibrium data were adjusted by adsorption isotherms from Langmuir and Freundlich models and their equilibrium parameters were determined. For the untreated biosorbent, the Langmuir model supplied q_max = 28.8 mg/g and b= 0.02L/mg for the Freundlich model parameters were K_f = 1.7 and n= 1.8. For the sodium hydroxide (NaOH) treated biomass, the parameters were q_max = 34.6 mg/g, b 0.08 L/mg, K_f = 5.3 and n= 2.3. The best adjusted model to the experimental equilibrium data for both untreated and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) treated biosorbent was the Langmuir model.

Keywords

Bioabsorption, Lead (II), Agaricus bisporus, Langmuir Isotherm, Freundlich Isotherm.

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Sharmila Upadhyaya ¹, Shipra Shukla ², Seema Bhadauria ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Botany, R. B. S. College, Agra, U. P., IN
2 Department of Biotechnology, R. B. S. College, Agra, U. P., IN

Abstract

The present investigation deals with the effect of different concentrations of refinery effluent on seed germination and seedling growth of Lens esculenta. The seeds were grown in pots and field and treated with various concentrations of refinery effluent. The plant showed positive effect on vegetative growth at lower concentration of the added refinery effluent, whereas higher concentration of refinery effluent showed gradual decrease in vegetative growth. The impact of petroleum refinery effluent irrigation on soil properties has been included in detail.

Keywords

Contaminated Soil, Refinery Effluent, Hydrocarbons, Lens esculenta, Peak-Height Ratio Method.

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