The nutritional status of under-five children is a sensitive sign of a country's health status as well as economic condition. This study investigated the differential impact of some demographic, socioeconomic, environmental and health-related factors on the nutritional status among under-five children in Bangladesh using Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2007 data. Two-level random intercept binary logistic regression models were used to identify the determinants of under-five malnutrition. The analyses revealed that 16% of the children were severely stunted and 25% were moderately stunted. Among the children under five years of age 3% were severely wasted and 14% were moderately wasted. Furthermore, 11% of the children were severely underweight and 28% were moderately underweight. The main contributing factors for under-five malnutrition were found to be child's age, mother's education, father's education, father's occupation, family wealth index, currently breast-feeding, place of delivery and division. Significant community-level variations were found in the analyses.

In Bangladesh, usually, small scale farmers are not adopted to use all kinds of improved technologies in dairy farming. But, high level of technology adoption has a direct impact on milk yield and household's income generation as well as dairy development. The objectives of this study was to determine the causes of adoption and non adoption of high yielding breed, the level of practices and constraints in adopting the improved technologies. The study was carried out in three different agro-ecological zones and 180 dairy cattle farmers were interviewed. Self practiced dairy technologies were listed, adoption score for each technology and adoption index for each farmer were studied. One-fourth farmers used artificial insemination for breeding purpose and two-fifth belonged to medium or high level of technology adoption. Only 35% farmers adopted crossbred cows and some others upgraded indigenous with exotic breeds. About 17.5% rural farmers and 70% semi-urban farmers reared crossbred cows and rural farmers are reluctant to utilize all kinds of improved technologies. Secondary and higher educated farmers were 9.7 times more likely to be adopting improved technologies compared to illiterate farmers. Top ranked constraints were ill equipped and negligible services at AI centre, no provision for testing of animals, poor knowledge of farmers about health care of animals and inadequate knowledge about proper feeding and balanced ration. Need more knowledge on improved technologies through training, availability of reliable and continuous technical assistance, availability and low price of concentrate feeds, increased and timely provision of medicine, increasing AI facilities, providing pure breed and strengthening extension services were the main suggestions from farmers.

An experiment was carried out in Calcareous Low Ganges River Floodplain Soil (AEZ 12) at Pulses Research Sub-Station (PRSS), Madaripur during Kharif I of 2008 and 2009.The objectives were to evaluate the effect of zinc (Zn) and boron (B) on the yield and yield contributing characters of mungbean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) and to find out the optimum dose of Zn and B for yield maximization. There were four levels of zinc (0, 0.75, 1.5, and 3.0 kg/ha and boron (0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2 kg/ha) along with a blanket dose of N20 P25 K35 S20 kg/ha. The experiment was laid out in RCBD with three replications. Results showed that the combination of Zn1.5B1.0 produced significantly higher yield (3058 kg/ha) and (2631 kg/ha, in the year 2008 and 2009, respectively. The lowest yield (2173 kg/ha) and (1573 kg/ha, were found in control (Zn0B0) combination. The combined application of zinc and boron were observed superior to their single application in both the years. Therefore, the combination of Zn1.5B1.0 might be considered as suitable dose for mungbean cultivation in Bangladesh. But from regression analysis, the optimum treatment combination was Zn1.87 B1.24 kg/ha for Madaripur.   Keywords: Zinc; boron; mungbean; yield; yield contributing characters. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjar.v36i1.9231 BJAR 2011; 36(1): 75-85

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the progress and regional variations of crop production in Bangladesh. The secondary data were used and collected for the years 1980

A study was conducted in Calcareous Low Ganges River Floodplain Soil (AEZ 12) at Regional Pulses Research (RPRS), Madaripur during the Rabi season of 2010-12.The objectives were to evaluate the effect of Zinc (Zn) and Boron (B) on the yield and yield contributing characters of lentil (Lens culinaris Medic) and to estimate the optimum dose of Zn and B for yield maximization. There were 16 treatment combinations comprising four levels each of Zinc (0, 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 kg/ha) and Boron (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 kg/ha) along with a blanket dose of N 20 P 16 K 30 S 10 kg/ha were used. The treatments were arranged viz. The experiment was laid out in RCBD with three replications. Results showed that the combination of Zn 3.0 B 1.5 produced significantly higher seed yield (1156 kg/ha). The lowest seed yield (844 kg/ha) was found in control (Zn 0 B 0 ) combination. The combined application of zinc and boron were superior to their single application. Therefore, the combination of Zn 3.0 B 1.5 may be considered as suitable dose for lentil cultivation in Bangladesh. But from regression analysis, the optimum treatment combination was Zn 2.85 B 1.44 for Madaripur, Bangladesh.

A field experiment was conducted on Chickpea-Mungbean-T.Aman cropping pattern at Pulses Research Sub-Station, Madaripur under Low Ganges River Floodplain Soils (AEZ-12) during 2007-08 and 2008-09 to find out the suitable fertilizer doses for this pattern. Four treatments were set up for each crop. For chickpea and mungbean, the treatments were T1=Recommended fertilizer dose as per FRG, 2005 BARC (N15P18K10S<5Zn0.5B0.5); T2=Soil test based fertilizer dose   (N21P23K30S18Zn2B1.5); T3=Farmers’ practice (N23P15K8); and T4=Control (without fertilizer). For T.Aman, the treatments were T1= Recommended fertilizer dose as per FRG, BARC (N66P7K12S6Zn1); T2=Soil test based fertilizer dose (N130P14K76S6Zn1.5B1.0); T3=Farmer practice (N90P10K15); and T4=control.   Experimental results revealed that among the treatments the highest seed and stover/straw yields of chickpea (1524 kg/ha and 4049 kg/ha), mungbean (2208 kg/ha and 5121 kg/ha) and T.Aman (5414 kg/ha and 5615 kg/ha) were recorded in treatment T<2. This treatment was significant at 5% level except seed yield of   chickpea in 2008-09. T3 treatment showed significant difference with T4 treatment.  The lowest seed and stover/straw yields of all the crops were recorded in control treatment (T4). After completion of two years’ pattern cycle, the organic matter, total  nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur, zinc, and boron were higher in treatment T2. The   economic analysis revealed that the highest BCR (2.57) was recorded in T2, while the lowest value (2.14) was noted in T4. Therefore, the soil test based   fertilizer dose may be considered as suitable dose for this cropping pattern that ensure higher yield and increase soil fertility. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjar.v37i2.11226 Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 37(2): 251-262, June 2012

The concentration of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co) and chromium (Cr) in three popular leafy vegetables such as spinach (Spinacia oleracea), red amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor) and amaranth (Amaranthus oleraseus) and that in the respective soils were assessed. These crops and soils

The study was undertaken to identify the constraints of native cattle genetic resource conservation at the farm level along with their features of breeding system and profitability. Five different study sites like south-west, northern hills, industrial zone, north-west and mid-region were selected representatively from all over the country. A total of 280 cattle farmers from the selected regions were interviewed. A multiple regression model was fitted to know the impact of contributing factors on lactation characteristics of cows. The double log linear model was also used to explore the input-output relationship of milk production. Average milk yield was 1.78 and 5.64 liter per day per cow respectively for native and crossbred cow. Contribution of age, order of lactation and stage of lactation were predictable in native cattle but not in crossbreds. Livestock farming contributed 36.4 percent of total income of the farmers studied. A crossbred cattle farming was profitable but native cattle farming was non-profitable. Indigenous cattle were preferred over crossbred due to their superior adaptability to local environmental stresses, rearing ease, low input, lesser proneness to disease and availability of native bull for mating. Per farm average number of milch cow was found to be reduced day by day and maximum number was 4 in a farm during the period 2006-07. Major causes of reduction were the non-profitability, crisis of feed, lack of investment, introduction of exotic breed etc. Responded farmers had no clear idea on conservation of native cattle. Keywords: Genetic resource; Conservation; Breeding system; Profitability assessment DOI: 10.3329/jbau.v8i1.6407J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 8(1): 113-120, 2010