Land degradation is major challenge of Nepal. The paper focuses mainly on causes and consequences of land degradation and their management approaches. Land degradation may occur through different physical, chemical and biological processes induced directly or indirectly by human activities like deforestation, shifting cultivation, overgrazing, steep slope farming, over use of chemical fertilizers and forest resources. These create many social problems like poverty, poor health and nutrition and demographic dynamics by lowering agricultural productivity. Agroforestry approaches like use of Multi Purpose Tree Species (MPTs), relay-cropping, terracing and contour cultivation, strip and alley cropping are appropriate to fulfill the needs of low resource farmers by restoring and increasing land productivity. The potentiality of the approach can be made more effective through holistic efforts, based on needs with active participation of farmers in planning and implementation stage. Key Words: Biodiversity; Deforestation; Ecosystem; Natural resource; Productivity; Erosion The Journal of Agriculture and Environment Vol:10, Jun.2009 Page: 133-143
Cellulose, a major polysaccharide found in agricultural residues and industrial and municipal wastes. In the present study thermophilic cellulolytic microorganisms were isolated. The isolates were tested for their cellulytic activity. The enzyme production from potent isolates was optimised using cellulose basal broth medium. Activity of partially purified enzyme was determined. The most potent thermophilic cellulolytic isolates were identified as Bacillus subtilis. The crude cellulase enzyme concentrated at 80-85% ammonium sulfate produced highest zone of hydrolysis. The enzymatic degradation of cellulose waste has been suggested as a feasible alternative for the conversion of lignocelluloses substrate into fermentable sugars and application for biofuel production.
Postharvest studies were carried out in three varieties of (Gerbera jamesonii Hook.) cvs. Primrose, Malibu and Sunway to find out the effect of growing seasons (autumn, winter and spring) on the vase life of cut flowers during September 2009 to March 2010. Laboratory experiments were carried out in controlled room having 18±2 o C temperature, 68±2% relative humidity and 100 lux light. The study revealed that the longest vase life was noticed in Sunway, followed by Primrose and Malibu. Regarding the season of production, longest vase life (18.37 days) was found in the flowers harvested in winter, followed by spring (14.8 days) and autumn (9.57 days). The interaction effect of season and variety showed that longest vase life (23.2 days) was found in Sunway harvested in winter whereas the shorter vase lives (5.7 and 7.8 days) were in Malibu and Primrose respectively harvested in autumn. Stalk length (57.88 cm) and floral diameter (10.78 cm) were highest in autumn while diameter of the stalk (0.64 cm) was the highest in spring. Sunway had the highest floral and stalk diameters, while the stalk length was longer in Malibu and Primrose. Total water uptake during the vase life was highest in flowers grown in winter (34.9 ml), followed by spring (34.7 ml) and autumn (26.14 ml).
Amylase is abundantly present in nature. The main source of this enzyme is the microbial origin. It is known that about two-third of the industrial enzymes (amylase, protease, cellulose, penicillinase, chitinase, etc,) are produced by the Bacillus spp. The present work comprised in the identification of amylase producing Bacillus spp and exposure of the producers to various parameters for the maximum yield of the enzyme. To isolate and identify the amylase and protease producing strain, soil samples were collected from different vegetation from the altitude at 4367.35 feet above sea level. The isolates were screened and various biochemical tests and morphological observations were done to identify the isolates. The enzymes were produced by the submerged state fermentation (SmF) from the isolates and purified by dialysis. Effects of temperature, pH, and different carbon and nitrogen sources of the medium using SmF were optimized. Among 95 isolates, 36 were identified. Among the identified isolates, Bacillus subtilis produced the maximum yield and thus, it was optimized for the amylase production. The maximum amylase production was found at 42 C temperature, in fructose as a carbon sugar, peptone as a nitrogen source and at pH 7. Almost all the enzyme producers inhabited the roots of leguminous plants. In the present study, starch is used with the nutrient agar medium to help in cell immobilization for maximum production of amylase by strains of Bacillus. More sophisticated process of purification such as chromatography and electrophoresis will yield more enzyme as compared to the dialysis.
Background: Most NCDs are strongly associated and causally linked with four particular behavioral risk factors: tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, and the harmful use of alcohol. The prevalence of NCDs is related to unhealthy behaviors and practices typically initiated in adolescence. Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the occurrence of behavioral risk factors associated with NCDs among secondary and undergraduate level students of Kathmandu Metropolitan City through identification of risk of smoking and alcohol, consumption of fruits and vegetables and level of physical activities. Materials and Methods: A quantitative cross sectional descriptive study was done from September to December, 2015 among 249 youths of age 14-28 years studying at various school and colleges in Kathmandu Metropolitan city. Results: The study findings were that 15.6% were smoker, 32.53% alcohol users, 38.96% consumed fruits at least once a day with mean 1.74 serving, 83.53% consumed vegetables at least once a day with mean 2.69 serving, 22.49% and 36.95% doing vigorous and moderate intensity physical activity at least 3 or more times in a week, 30 minutes at a time. The Chi-square test showed the association of sex of participants, age group of participants, permanent residence, living with family, studying in public and private school/college and family income with different behavioral risk factors. Conclusion: The study showed high proportions of participants were at risk of developing NCDs. Male were found to be harmful use of alcohol and smoking, and consuming less fruits and vegetables, and female were found to be doing less physical activity. Both male and female were at higher risk, but their behavioral risk seemed to be different according to the sex difference.
Postharvest loss of cut flower at all the stakeholders in Nepal before reaching consumer is about 20-25% in Nepal. The major problem in gerbera for its vase life is stem or scape bending. This study was aimed to assess the effect of calcium chloride and different floral preservatives in the vase life and to evaluate the quality of different varieties of gerbera cut flower. The study was conducted in a completely randomized design in the controlled lab of Central Agricultural Laboratory located at Hariharbhawan, Lalitpur at 17±2 ˚C temperature, 55 ± 2% relative humidity (RH) and 100 lux light. The study revealed that among two varieties, Rosalin, a light pink variety of gerbera was found to be better with prolonged vase life. Rosalin showed the longest vase life (14.05 days) with higher solution uptake (13.97 mL) and recorded minimum stem bending (43.8˚) on 15th day of vase life. Among ten different vase solutions, 4% sucrose + 1% calcium chloride (18.25 days), 4% sucrose + 0.5% calcium chloride (16.58 days) and 0.5% calcium chloride (16.25 days) were found the most effective vase solutions to prolong the vase life of gerbera cut flower as compared to control (7.67 days). Vase life solution of 4% sucrose + 1% calcium chloride is a potential commercial preservative solution to improve the keeping quality and vase life of cut gerbera. To conclude, calcium treatment along with a carbohydrate in a vase solution improves the vase life of gerbera cut flower.
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