No abstract

A field experiment was conducted to find out the effect of nitrogen levels and transplanting dates on the yield and yield components of aromatic rice cv. Kalizira. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications using four( 0, 50, 100, and 150 kg N ha-1 ) levels of nitrogen and three transplanting dates (10 August, 22 August and 04 September, 2007 ) along with the basal doses of triple super phosphate (TSP), muriate of potash (MoP) and gypsum. The study revealed that most of the yield and yield contributing characters with few exceptions were significantly influenced by nitrogen levels and transplanting dates. They had significant positive effect on tillers hill-1, tillers hill-1, grains panicle-1 and straw yield. The highest grain yield (2.63 t ha-1) was observed in 100 kg N ha-1 with 10 August transplanting treatment and straw yield (6.43 t ha-1) was found highest in 150 kg N ha-1 with same date of transplanting and the lowest grain (1.83 t ha-1) and straw yields (5.14 t ha-1) were found in N control treatment with transplanting date of 04 September. The highest grain length (4.68 mm), grain breadth (2.49 mm) and imbibition ratio (6.93) were observed with 100 kg ha-1 N rate coupled with 10 August transplanting, and for length-breadth ratio, the same rate recorded the highest result, but with different transplanting date i.e. 22 August. Keywords: Aromatic rice; Kalizira; Nitrogen; Transplanting date DOI: 10.3329/jbau.v6i2.4824 J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 6(2): 291-296, 2008

With the recent emphasis on environmental protection, electric vehicles (EVs) have gained popularity in regions such as Europe, America, China, and Australia; due to their 'zero tail-pipe emission' and low maintenance cost. This paper aims to investigate the feasibility of introducing EVs into the Brunei market using life cycle cost analysis, as well as identify dominant factors that influence its feasibility. Although local data have been used, methodologies adopted in this paper are applicable and directly transferable for analysis of other markets. Our analysis has shown that EV is currently still expensive as compared to the Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles (ICEVs) and Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) in the market; with its acquisition cost, contributing much to its Life Cycle Cost (LCC). In order to promote EVs and make other types of vehicles less desirable, it is proposed that a direct government subsidy be introduced as well as the current gasoline price to be increased. It has been shown that the initial subsidy of USD$4100 and increasing gasoline price to USD$0.70/litre, would allow EVs to compete comfortably in the market. This subsidy can be gradually reduced with time, as EV becomes cheaper due to the expected reduction in battery price. Environmentally, however, the current greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from EVs turn out higher than ICEVs, considering the energy chain. In this regard, cleaner renewable energy sources need to be considered and improvement in power plant efficiency needs to be made, to make EVs more environmentally competitive to conventional vehicles. In conclusion, the government needs to look into financial incentives such as subsidy and increasing gasoline price to improve the feasibility of EVs in the market, as well as to improve efficiency of the energy generation and transmission to derive the full benefit of EVs. INDEX TERMS Techno-economic, life cycle cost, electric vehicle, environmental impact, Brunei.

No abstract

No abstract