A study regarding survey of birds was carried out at dhauladhar Nature Park Gopalpur of Distt Kangra in the month of July 2011. During the present taxonomic and ecological study there was seen 89 species of birds belonging to 62 genera, 34 families and 11 orders. Out of a total 89 species 49 have been placed under Indian Wildlife Protection Act 1972 while rest were found to be least concern. Insectivores represents 38 species while 16 species of the birds were omnivores and 14 species of the birds were found frugivorous and 10 species belongs to granivores.

The purpose of this study was to assess the factors affecting farmers’ tendency to establish agricultural production cooperatives in Mahabad County (West Azarbaijan Province, Iran). The statistical society includes 140 excellent farmers living in Mahabad and sample size was estimated 100 by Cochran method. The data was collected through a questionnaire. The correlation between variables and factor analysis was used to recognize the factors affecting farmers’ tendency. The results showed that there were positive and significant correlation between farmers’ tendency to establish production cooperatives and social factors, extension-educational factors, the role of government and farmers’ tendency to participate in group activities, statistically. Data analysis based on factor analysis indicated that social factors, economic factors, administrative factors, the familiarity to cooperation and extension-educational factors were the important effective factors on the farmers’ tendency to establish production cooperatives in Mahabad County and these five major factors explained 80.83 % of cumulative variances.

Drought stress is an important factor limiting crop production. Selection of resistant genotypes is a method to decrease the drought effects. In this investigation, eight wheat genotypes were assessed in two environments (irrigated and rain-fed) using randomized complete block design with three replications. Drought resistance indices were calculated using yield data in both stress and non stress conditions to identify resistant and susceptible genotypes. The analysis of variance based of proline content and yield showed genotypic differences among the wheat plants in response to the drought stress. Non-significant negative correlation was observed between seed yield in stress condition and proline content in stress condition. Proline content exhibited significant negative correlations with STI, GMP, HARM and MP. Significant correlations between proline content in stress condition and MP or TOL were also observed. The Cluster analysis assigned the genotypes into three groups with High-yielding (number 8), moderate-yielding (numbers 1 and 2) and low-yielding (numbers 7, 3, 4, 5 and 6). The SDS-PAGE analysis showed that resistant genotype (Pishgam) had lower variation in the protein bands pattern but three sensitive genotypes have most variation in the protein bands pattern.

A Geochemical study was conducted in Miryalaguda mandal of Nalgonda district, Andhra Pradesh, to assess the quality of ground water, which is mainly used for drinking purpose. Geochemical studies was conducted on 58 representative ground water samples collected in pre- and post-monsoon seasons and analyzed for various parameters like pH, EC and TH, estimation of various cations and anions like SO4 2-, Ca+2, Mg+2, Na+, K+, Cl-, and F-. The result showed that the concentrations of these ions exceed the permissible limits of World Health Organization (WHO) and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for drinking purposes. The increased concentrations of these elements pose potential sensory problem and the overall quality of the waters was found unsatisfactory for dinking purpose.

Two supervised field experiments were conducted in the bhendi hybrid MH 10 during kharif, 2012 and rabi, 2012-13 to study the impact of agrochemicals on coccinellid population. The agrochemicals used were fertilizer, insecticide and herbicide individually as well as in combinations. It was found that the population of coccinellids was higher in the untreated check (0.20 to 1.13/plant) while a low population was recorded in the treatment with herbicide + insecticide which ranged from 0.03 to 0.33/plant during kharif, 2012. In rabi, 2012-13, a higher population was recorded in the untreated check (0.16 to 1.06/plant) while a low population was observed in the treatment with herbicide + insecticide (0.06 to 0.50/plant). It was also found that, the population was higher in the treatment with fertilizer alone (0.47 and 0.50/plant in kharif and rabi respectively) compared to the other treatments.

Mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori L. is monophagous and feeds on mulberry. The beneficial effects of various organics such as green manures, bio-fertilizers, vermicompost and application of certified organic fertilizers need to be highlighted adequately for increasing the yields in mulberry and consequent silk quality. Due to continuous application of chemical fertilizers which brings about the depletion of the soil fertility, sustainable yields of cocoons could not be achieved. As an alternative, application of organic manures which helps in the revival of soil health has to be tested for a sustainable increase of yield and quality of mulberry leaf in comparison with application of Chemical fertilizers. In this study six treatments comprising of organic nitrogen, organic phosphorous, organic potassium were applied and the bio-efficacy of all these inputs on the quantitative and qualitative parameters of silkworm and cocoon were studied in comparison with chemical fertilizers. Bioassay studies revealed that T-6 and T-4 have shown higher values compared to control.

It has been reported that as much as 75% of the daily calorie intake of the people in some Asian countries is derived from rice. At harvest time (August to late September 2013) 800 Alikazemi rice samples were randomly collected and were studied in states of: Whole rice grains, Brown and Polished in 4 different states of heating and cooking processes: Raw , Rinsed, Cooked and Drained. Samples collected from ten major farmland rice production areas in Gilan province in the north of Iran from cities due to investigation the effect of milling, cooking and heating processes in polished and brown rice samples on their mineral and heavy metal contents( Mn, Zn, Fe, Pb, Cd and As) and find the best cooking methods in order to avoid the side effects of heavy metals in edible an consumed rice and also assess the associated health risk posed to the population through exposure to heavy metals (Arsenic, Cadmium and Lead) in rice. Results show that rinsing samples especially after 4 times has the significant role (p< 0.002) in decreasing the cadmium and lead contents. The results of this research revealed that the removal of husk layer during dehusking and polishing substantially reduces the mineral nutrient value of rice grains. In general, the bran contains higher levels of iron, Manganese and Zinc. Polishing substantially reduces the mineral nutrient value of rice grains. The results give us the possibility to process brown rice to obtain Low toxic and heavy metals contents at a relatively high zinc, Iron and Manganese content.

Relationship between soluble boron extracted with a hot water solution and pH, organic carbon, Ca, Calcium carbonate equivalent (CCE), available P and K, and clay content were performed for surface samples of 164 soils. The soils were inceptisol. To quantify the relations between soluble boron and the different soil parameters, simple linear correlations were performed. Hot-water extractable boron (HWB) was significantly correlated with clay content (r = 0.17*), available P (r = 0.17*), K (r = 0.34*) and Calcium carbonate equivalent (r = 0.25*) in all soils. In addition, there was a significant negative correlation between HWB and sand content (r = – 0.32*).

Salicylic acid, a naturally occurring plant hormone acting as an important signaling molecule adds to tolerance against abiotic stresses. It plays a vital role in plant growth, ion uptake and transport. Salicylic acid is also involved in endogenous signaling to trigger plant defense against pathogens. This positive effect of SA could be attributed to an increased CO2 assimilation and photosynthetic rate and increased mineral uptake by the stressed plant under SA treatment. The application of salicylic acid, acetylsalicylic acid or other analogues of SA, to leaves of corn and soybean accelerated their leaf area and dry mass production, but plant height and root length remained unaffected. SA reduced the Na uptake of plants and/or increased the uptake of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and the other minerals as compared to control treatment under salt stress.