Growth and Yield of Tomatillo as Influenced by Planting Time and Macronutrients

With the use of a strategic pairing of planting time and macronutrients, tomatillo growth and yield can be boosted. Due to their complementing effects, the ideal combination of different planting times and macronutrients may significantly boost tomatillo growth and yield. The experiment was set by taking two treatment factors. Our treatment factors were: (1) Planting time (three time’s viz. T1 = 02 November, T2 = 12 November, and T3 = 22 November); and (2) Macro nutrients (four levels viz. F0 = N0P0K0 Kg/ha, F1 = N200P60K100 Kg/ha, F2= N250P90K120Kg/ha, F3 = N300P120K140 Kg/ha). The two factors experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. In case of planting time, the sharp increase of fruits per plant (37.06), fruit weight (42.7 g), yield per plant ( 2.04 kg) and per hectare ( 85.06 t) were obtained from T3 (22 November). In case of macronutrients, the maximum number of fruits per plant (47.26), fruit weight ( 48.47 g), yield per plant ( 2.75 kg) and per hectare ( 114.59 t) were obtained from F1 (N200P60K100 Kg/ha). Combined effect (T3F1) had improved the number of fruits per plant (49.66), fruit weight ( 55.64 g), yield per plant ( 2.94 kg) and per hectare ( 122.84 t), vitamin C content (25.92 mg) and noted from T1F0 (02 November with N0P0K0Kg/ha) treatment combination that minimum number of fruits per plant (14.0), fruit weight ( 24.69 g), yield per plant ( 0.5 kg) and per hectare ( 20.85 t), vitamin C content (16.63 mg). So, the T3F1 treatment combination appeared to be the best for achieving the higher growth and yield of tomatillo.

Effect of Sowing Date and Phosphorus on Growth, Seed Yield and Quality of Fenugreek

The effect of sowing date (three sowing dates viz., S1= 01 November, S2= 15 November and S3= 30 November) and phosphorus levels (four phosphorus fertilizer levels viz., P0= Control, P1= 35 kg P ha-1, P2= 45 kg P ha-1 and P3= 55 kg P ha-1) on growth, seed yield and quality of fenugreek was investigated at Horticulture Farm, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh, during 10 October 2020 to April 2021. Growth-related data was maximum on S1 (01 November) treatment but S2 (15 November) treatment showed the best result in case of seed yield. In case of growth characters, P3 (55 kg ha-1) revealed the best result but in case of seed yield, P2 (45 kg ha-1) treatment showed the best effect. Under this investigation, it was revealed that the maximum growth was obtained by S1P3 (01 November with 55 kg P ha-1) and the minimum growth was obtained by S3P0 (30 November with control) treatment combination. The maximum pods per plant (52.61), seeds per pod (12.87), weight of individual pod (147.11 mg), the weight of seeds per plant (7.67 g) and weight of 1000-seed (13.86 g), seed yield per plot (306.72 g), seed yield per hectare (2.13 t) and vigor index (570.27) was observed from the treatment combination S2P2 (15 November with 45 kg P ha-1). It was concluded that the combination of sowing date S2 (15 November) along with phosphorus application P2 (45 kg P ha-1) were given the better performance of all the yield contributing parameters and seed yield of fenugreek. So, S2P2 (15 November with 45 kg P ha-1) treatment combination can be repeated in different agro-ecological zones of Bangladesh.

Effect of Macronutrients Combination with Plant Spacing on the Growth and Yield of Black Cumin (Nigella sativa L.)

An experiment was conducted into the Horticulture Farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka from October 2019 to March 2020 this study the effect of macronutrients combination and plant spacing on growth and yield of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.). Black cumin variety BARI Kalozira-1 was used as planting material in this study. The experiment consisted of two factors: Factor-A: macro nutrient combinations (4 levels): T1= N0P0K0 kg ha-1 (control), T2= N90P50K40 kg ha-1, T3= N135P75K60 kg ha-1; Factor-B: plant spacing (3 levels): S1= 20 cm × 10 cm, S2= 20 cm × 15 cm and S3= 20 cm × 20 cm. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with factorial with three replications. Data on different growth, yield and yield contributing parameter of black cumin were recorded and significant variation was observed from different treatments. In case of nutrient combinations, the tallest plant (54.86 cm) was observed from T3 (N135P75K60 kg ha-1) treatment. The maximum primary branch plant-1 (8.62) and secondary branch plant-1 (12.18), flower plant-1 (22.20), capsules plant-1 (19.69) and 1000 seed weight (2.99 g) was observed from T2 (N90P50K40 kg ha-1) treatment. The highest seed yield ha-1 (1.18 t) was observed from T2 (N90P50K40 kg ha-1) treatment. In case of plant spacing the tallest plant (48.34 cm) was observed from S1 (20 cm × 10 cm) treatment. The maximum primary branch plant-1 (7.80) and secondary branch plant-1 (11.23) flower plant-1 (20.26), capsules plant-1 (18.81), 1000 seed weight (2.99 g) were observed from S3 (20 cm × 20 cm) treatment. The highest seed yield ha-1 (1.09 t) was recorded from S1 (20 cm × 10 cm) treatment. It can be concluded that, sowing of black cumin providing 90 kg N, 50 kg P and 40 kg K nutrient combination with 20 cm × 10 cm plant spacing was recorded to be more suitable practice for getting higher amount and quality of seed yield of black cumin.

Noise level in different places of Dhaka Metropolitan City (DMC) and noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in Dhaka City dwellers.

A cross sectional, exploratory study was designed at "National Center for Hearing and Speech for Children" (NCHSC), Dhaka, Bangladesh, from May 2001 to June 2002, with a view to determine the average noise level in different places of Dhaka Metropolitan City (DMC), and also aiming at evaluating the extent of Noise-induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) in different groups of city dwellers and finally a base line information. A total of 32 places in DMC were selected randomly. The highest noise level recorded 104 dB at Sayedabad bus terminal and the lowest 68 dB in Banani and Baridhara residential area. In silent zone of DMC, average noise level was 79 dB, in residential zone 72 dB, in commercial zone 90 dB, and in mixed zone average noise level was recorded at 91 dB. Measured noise levels were more than acceptable and permissible levels in all places of DMC. A total of 312 persons aged between 15-45 years (mean age- 24.64 years) were enrolled for the study as per inclusion criteria. Gender-wise male were 211(67.62%) and female were 101(32.57%). Profession-wise Automobile drivers were 57(18.26 %), Garment workers 58(18.55 %), City dwellers 72(23.07%), Students 72(23.07%), Traffic polices 12(3.85%), Hawkers and Road side shopkeepers were 41(13.1%). Definite noise notch (>25dB) at 4KHz observed in 33(10.58%) audiogram of persons under study. Automobile drivers, Traffic polices, Road side hawkers and Shop keepers, Garment workers are mostly affected were 17.54%, 16.4%, 12.09% and 12.06% respectively. A total of 201 persons (64.42%) were not aware of their hearing impairment, 244(78%) of the person had poor level of knowledge regarding bad effects of noise on health and about protective means available. Amongst persons (33) found to have NIHL did not use any protective device.

Sero-epidemiological studies on Toxoplasma gondii infection in man and animals in Bangladesh.

Sera from randomly selected 49 professional blood donors, 617 pregnant women, 14 butchers, 528 slaughtered goats and 24 domestic cats in the district of Mymensingh were tested for the presence of T. gondii antibodies using a Latex agglutination test (LAT). Overall 12.4% blood donors, 11.18% pregnant women, 50.00% butchers, 12.88% slaughtered goats and 33.33% cats had diagnostically significant antibody titers (> or = 1:64) to T. gondii. Epidemiological studies on T. gondii infection with LAT were conducted in 25 family members with sero-positive cats and 9 family members with 2 sero-positive women without cats in the family. Significantly (p < 0.01) higher sero-positivity rate was recorded in the family members (24.00%) with positive cats in comparison to family members (11.11%) without cats. The epidemiologic study indicates that infected cats and goat meat might be significant sources of T. gondii infection for humans in Bangladesh.

Serological diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection in women associated with gyneco-obstetric problems.

The latex agglutination test (Toxoreagent) was used to detect the sero-prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in 302 Bangladeshi women who were under treatment for various gyneco-obstetric problems at the Mymensingh Medical College during January to June 1991. The over-all sero-prevalence rate was 15.89%, of which 6.25% reacted at 1:32, 33.33% at 1:64, 16.67% at 1:128, 22.92% at 1:256, 6.25% at 1:512 and 14.58% at 1:1024. The positivity rate of 18.60% recorded in women between 31 and 40 years was insignificantly (p > 0.05) higher than that of 15.44% in women between 17 and 30 years of age. Over-all 26.49% of infections resulted in abortion, 6.62 in stillbirths and 30.79% in dystocia, of which 20.0%, 30.0% and 7.53% women had positive titers to T. gondii, respectively, whereas 17.43% women with normal live births had also positive titers to T. gondii. The over-all prevalence rate of abortion in association with T. gondii infection was 5.30% which was higher than the rates of stillbirths (1.99%) and perinatal death (0.66%). It is concluded that toxoplasmosis can cause abortion, stillbirths and perinatal death in Bangladeshi women.