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This study on soil carbon dynamics provides valuable insights for sustainable agricultural practices, optimizing crop productivity and environmental sustainability in maize-based cropping systems. The present study aimed to find out the soil characteristics and carbon dynamics in maize-based cropping systems in the Western zone of Tamil Nadu, India. Soil samples from six cropping systems were analyzed for bulk density, sand, silt, clay content, pH, available nutrients (N, P, K, Zn), total organic carbon (TOC), oxidizable organic carbon fractions, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and carbon pools. The distribution of oxidizable organic carbon fractions varied among cropping systems and soil depths. The easily decomposable and moderately labile fractions were highest in the maize-black gram system, while the recalcitrant fraction showed variations across cropping systems. The active carbon pool (Cf1 + Cf2) was highest at 2.53 g kg-1 in the maize-blackgram system, while the passive carbon pool (Cf3 + Cf4) was also highest at 3.79 g kg-1 in this system. The study also assessed the carbon stock and microbial biomass carbon. TOC content decreased with depth, with the highest values observed in the topsoil. The maize-black gram system had the highest TOC content at all depths. MBC content followed a similar pattern, with the highest values in the topsoil and the maize-black gram system. These findings provided insights into the soil characteristics and carbon dynamics in maize-based cropping systems in the study area. The long-term integration of maize cultivation with blackgram demonstrated significant enhancements in organic carbon levels, TOC content, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and both passive and active carbon pools characterized by rapid turnover rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selection for earliness, high yield, quality pods, resistance to pests and diseases are the major aims in the French bean. Selection and identification of French bean variety suitable for cultivation are needed. Collections were made at the Nilgiris district and based on evaluation, French bean variety Ooty 3 (pole type) was selected as a pure line. Initially, sixteen different genotypes were collected from different locations and evaluated at Horticultural Research Station, Ooty. A single plant namely PvP5-1 was selected from Nilgiris local based on improvement in pod length, pod number, pod weight, pod circumference and yield per plant. The yield performance of Ooty 3 was superior over check in all the Multi-Location Trials, Adaptive Research Trial and large-scale evaluation trials. Due to its consistent superior performance, it was released as a French bean variety, Ooty 3 during 2018 duly approved by the Crop Scientist Meet, 2017 held at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and Tamil Nadu State variety release committee to cater for the needs of Tamil Nadu farmers thereby increasing the yield level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Azo dye effluents cause severe pollution problems in soil and water and affect their flora and fauna throughout the world. The combination of dye degrading bacteria in the gut of freshwater fish has been considered a prospective approach towards the development of a sustainable environment. In the southernmost part of India, especially in the Namakkal District of Tamil Nadu state, urbanization and industrial development lead to various environmental issues. In lieu, most of the earlier works were carried out on the bacterial dye degradation from soil and water sources, least concentration on the dye degradation from fish gut flora. The objective of this study was to analyze the role of dye degrading bacteria in the gut of freshwater fish collected from the study area. Results: We have studied the aerobic degradation of remazol yellow reactive dye by bacteria forming the gut flora of exotic fish Oreochromis mossambica from river Cauvery at Pallipalayam of Namakkal District, India. Eight dye degrading gut isolates viz. Pseudomonas sp. AD1, Bacillus sp. AD2, Staphylococcus sp. AD3, Staphylococcus AD4, Enterobacter sp. AD5, Escherichia coli AD6, Streptococcus sp. AD7 and Clostridium sp. AD8 were obtained capable of growing in azo dye incorporated in Basic mineral medium (BMM) medium. Optimization study was carried out for various parameters for the selected isolates. Based on the growth, maximum growth was seen in Pseudomonas sp. AD1 (in 0–24 h) and minimum in Escherichia coli.AD 6 (in 72–96 h). Pseudomonas sp. AD1, Enterobacter sp.AD5, and Bacillus sp. AD 2 exhibited efficient dye degradation during 0–96 h analysis which was confirmed by FTIR analysis. Loss of azo group stretch at 1572–76 cm−1 and 1429 cm−1 and presence of primary (–NH2–) and secondary amides (–NH2–), aliphatic –C–N– stretching and confirmed –C–S– stretching in FTIR analysis confirms the breaking down of the azo bond. Conclusion: This study showed that there is a platform for using the bacterial flora of fish gut that paves a prominent way in the degradation of Azo dye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Neyveli, Tamilnadu, India, a deep-seated multi-layered confined aquifer is being continuously pumped to permit safe mining of lignite. This paper highlights the various ground water recharge studies undertaken to quantify the potential of recharging the Neyveli hydrogeological basin to maintain the regional ground water balance. GIS studies were used to analyze artificial recharge in the Neyveli basin, commencing from the deep water table zone (recharge area) in the western upland part, the confined aquifer zone closer to the active mining area, and the confined zone further away in the east, down-dip and closer to the coast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chili (Capsicum annum) and chili powder are widely consumed in south India. The inherent and eco physiological factors with unusual nutritional characteristics of chili favors the growth of molds, during harvest and post-harvest processing. Chilies have been identified as one of the commodities with the highest Aflatoxin contamination levels. On safety perspective, the presence of fungi and the co-occurrence of mycotoxins in the chili available at market level may pose a major threat on human health. A study was conducted to assess the mycotic impact on the quality of dried red chili and chili powder available in the markets of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. The common molds like Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger were present in dried chilies and chili powder and the level of green mold contamination ranges from 15.71 × 103 cfu/g to 39.75 × 103 cfu/g in all the samples. Scanning Electron Microscopic examinations on morphological characteristics of conidia and spores, as well as molecular characterisation, identified the isolates as A.flavus. Chili contained more fungal spores than chili powder. The total aflatoxin potential of five A.flavus isolates were investigated. Aflatoxigenicity was found in all five isolates. All the isolates were tested positive for aflatoxin B1, with levels ranging from 0.22 to 555.11 ppb. Aflatoxin B2 has been identified in 60 percent of the isolates. Aflatoxin G1 was found in trace amounts in isolate AF1. Aflatoxin G2 was not detected in any of the isolates. Improper storage may have a significant influence in the growth of molds in chili and chili powder. The ability of fungal species to generate more than one aflatoxin should be taken into account. It has the potential to cause serious health risks. In conclusion, because single Aspergillus flavus may produce a variety of aflatoxins, there is a need for effective methods to eliminate molds and mycotoxins from food items. [Display omitted] • Dried chili have more fungal population than chili powder. • Internal transcribed spacer regions can use as a barcode sequence. • High Performance Liquid Chromatography helps in aflatoxin detection. • Aspergillus flavus are potential to produce different types of aflatoxins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]