Long-term tillage and nitrogen management for improving productivity and profitability of a rainfed maize-wheat system in north western Himalaya

Aim: The study aimed to identify the optimum tillage and source of nitrogen for refining yields, yield sustainability and rainwater-use efficiency, and to develop predictive models explaining the relationship between crop yield and monthly rainfall with main goal of reduced cost of cultivation and increased profitability for long-term sustainability of maize-wheat system. Methodology: A long-term field experiment on maize-wheat system was conducted from 2000 to 2012 at Regional Research Station, Ballowal Saunkhri, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana in split plot design with three replications. The treatment included three tillage practices, viz., conventional tillage (CT), reduced tillage (RT1) and RT1 + herbicide (RT2) in the main plots and three nitrogen (N) management practices, viz., 100% N from organic source (F1), 50% N from organic + 50% N from inorganic source (F2) and 100% N from inorganic source (F3) in the sub-plots. The parameters included maize and wheat yield, rainwater use efficiency, economics, sustainability yield index to develop predictive models. Results: Prediction models expressing relation between yield and monthly rainfall showed beneficial effect of rainfall in June, July and September months on maize and January and February in wheat on crop productivity. RT2 gave highest mean maize grain yield (2264 kg ha−1) with 13.8 and 1.8% yield superiority over RT1 and CT, respectively. However, in wheat, CT recorded highest grain yield (2110 kg ha−1) with 7.9 and 1.7% higher yield than RT1 and RT2, respectively. The RT2F3 gave highest net returns of US$ 222.60 ha−1 with benefit-cost ratio (B:C) of 1.88, rain water use efficiency (RWUE) of 4.78 kg ha−1 mm−1 and a sustainable yield index (SYI) of 60.7% in maize, whereas in wheat it provided net returns of US$315.45 ha−1 with B:C of 2.28, RWUE of 23.0 kg ha−1 mm−1 and SYI of 47.4%. Interpretation: The efficient rainwater use and optimum yields of rainfed maize-wheat system can be realised with reduced tillage + herbicide based weed management along with application of recommended nitrogen. The study suggests the shift from conventional tillage practices to reduced/conservation tillage practices.

Mixed pulmonary infection in an immunocompromised patient: A rare case report.

Patients who are immunocompromised are predisposed to a variety of common and uncommon pulmonary infections. We report a case of mixed pulmonary infection by drug resistant tuberculosis with a nocardiosis in a 49-year-old man who was a known case of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, on prolonged corticosteroid use with diabetes mellitus. Chronic use of corticosteroids is a predisposing factor for opportunistic infections, such as nocardiosis or tuberculosis. Since such a mixed infection is rare, maybe a combined approach to therapy early in the course of disease would be effective in such cases.

Cerebral venous thrombosis in ulcerative colitis.

Cerebral venous thrombosis is a rare complication of ulcerative colitis. We report a case of 29 year old male who developed superior sagittal, left lateral and sigmoid sinus thrombosis secondary to ulcerative colitis. He was successfully treated with low molecular weight heparin and steroids.

Physician assisted suicide--the perspective of a neurologist.

Modern medicine has resulted in a better control and treatment of many diseases. This has provided a better life for patients with treatable disorders, but at the same times has prolonged the suffering of the patients with diseases that are not treatable. This is of particular importance for the patients with neurological diseases, as some of these conditions have a relentlessly progressive course and cause significant distress to the patient. Recent times have seen an expansion of the scope of the various "rights of the patient" and according to some, this includes the "right to die". As a result of this concept of regarding the autonomy of the patient, the phenomenon of physician assisted suicide has emerged and is a topic of intense debate amongst the physicians, social workers and politicians all over the world. The present article puts forth the current concepts and brings out the exact definitions of the terms like physician-assisted suicide, voluntary active euthanasia and voluntary passive euthanasia. It presents the statements made by the various societies and organisations regarding the PAS. It also brings forth the point of view of the authors about this aspect of medicine. The authors share the view of the various scientific organisations, and opine that though the idea of physician assisted suicide may be morally justifiable in certain circumstances, it should not be made legal.