ABSTRACT
The present study was conducted to find out the salt tolrant mustard variety for semi-arid region because this region has higher amount of poor quality water for irrigation and nutrient accumulation under saline environment is the most limiting factor in the sustainable crop production. For this four mustard varieties in main plots (Kranti, Giriraj, CS-54, and CS-58) and three fertilizer doses in sub-plots (100, 125 and 150% RDF). During the experimentation, saline water irrigation (7 dS m-1) was applied. The physiological parameters like RWC (75.54 to 80.34 %), total chlorophyll content (1.60 to 1.91 mg g-1 FW), and photosynthetic rate (10.09 to 14.79 µmol CO2 m-2s-1) were significantly increased with increasing dose of fertilizers. Yield stability index was highest with the application of 150% RDF. HI index showed a decline trend with the increasing dose of fertilizers, whereas oil content decreased non-significantly. Irrespective of fertilizer doses, variety CS-58 recorded maximum seed yield (22.89 q ha-1), biological yield (11.22 q ha-1); and other physiological parameters followed by CS-54, Giriraj, and Kranti mustard varieties. Variety CS-58 had the highest nutrient content (N, P, and K) in straw, with reaching to 125% RDF being at par with 150% RDF, followed by CS-54, Giriraj, and Kranti, respectively. The salt ratio (Na+:K+) decreased non-significantly with fertilizer doses, its mean value was however lowest in CS-58.
ABSTRACT
Background: This study aims to measure the quality of life (QoL) scores in children with thalassemia major following up at a tertiary care center for routine blood transfusion in comparison to healthy children.Methods: A case control study design was adopted, wherein on the QoL of 36 children with thalassemia in the age group 5 to 18 following up for blood transfusion at Goa Medical College, was measured using PedsQL' 4.0. This was compared to the QoL in age and gender matched healthy children from a government school. A higher score on a subscale indicates better quality of life on this instrument.Results: The children with thalassemia had lower mean scores on physical (67.85 vs 84.24; P <0.001), social (78.34 vs 87.95; P=0.002) and school (62.64 vs 79.48; P <0.001) functioning subscales compared to the healthy children. They also had lower mean psychosocial summary score (73.32 vs 82.01; P=0.003) and total health summary score (71.95 vs 82.57; P <0.001). The physical functioning subscale had significantly higher score among the children who were on chelation and also among the ones whose parents reported as being informed about the condition.Conclusions: The children with thalassemia have poor QoL in physical, social and school functioning domains. Improvement in QoL requires consolidated efforts on part of doctors, parents, school authorities and policy makers. These patients should be provided with low cost-effective chelation therapy. The parents need to be counselled about this disease by the treating team.