Hydrogel applications for yield improvement of capsicum with deficit irrigation at cold desert Ladakh region

Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the effects of hydrogel application on growth, physiological responses and yield of capsicum under high altitude cold desert conditions with deficit irrigation of Ladakh region. Methodology: Field experiment was conducted with five levels of hydrogel treatment (viz. 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 kg ha-1) at cold desert Ladakh region with two irrigation intervals (7 and 11 days) during 2014-15 cropping season. Plant growth characters, root morphology, physiological parameters and capsicum yield were analyzed according to standard methods during the experiments. Results: Hydrogel application in deficit irrigation improved physiological parameters viz. leaf chlorophyll content, relative water content, membrane stability index and significant reduction in electrolyte leakage in capsicum plant. Significant improvement in root morphology was also recorded when hydrogel was applied @ 15 and 20 kg ha-1. Improvement of yield attributing characters as influenced by hydrogel application @ 15 and 20 kg ha-1 resulted in significant increase in capsicum yield with reduced water requirement. Interpretation: Hydrogel has potential for growth of capsicum crop through improved root morphology and physiology of plant in deficit irrigation under arid and semi-arid regions where availability of water for irrigation is scarce or average rainfall is quite low.

Protective effect of ethanolic and water extracts of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) against the toxic effects of mustard gas.

Ethanolic extract of H. rhamnoides L. leaf (HL-EOH), water and ethanolic extract of H. rhamnoides fruit (HF-W and HF-EOH), and H. rhamnoides flavone from fruit (HR-flavone) were evaluated against percutaneously administered sulphur mustard (SM), a chemical warfare agent. The animals administered with SM (9.7, 19.3 and 38.7 mg/kg) died at various days depending upon the dose and there was a significant reduction in the body weight. The H. rhamnoides extracts (1 g/kg; 3 doses; po) significantly protected the lethality, with a protective index of 2.4, 1.7, 1.7 and 2.2 for HL-EOH, HF-W, HF-EOH and HR-flavone respectively. Reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutalthione (GSSG) levels were reduced, and malondialdehyde (MDA) was elevated after percutaneous administration of SM. Oral administration of HL-EOH and HR-flavone significantly protected the body weight loss. Recovery in the levels of GSH, GSSG and MDA were also observed following oral administration of HL-EOH and HR-flavone. All the extracts were non-toxic and the LD50 was more than 5 g/kg. The present study shows that percutaneous administration of SM induces oxidative stress and ethanolic extract of leaf of H. rhamnoides and H. rhamnoides flavone from fruit can significantly protect it.