PhD Thesis

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Application of Functional Bio-Molecules for the Control of Mosquito
(University of Rajshahi, 2014) Rahman, Mohammad Mahbubur; Islam, Md Nurul
The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the larvicidal activity of 6 selected plants Alstonia scholaris L. (Apocynaceae), Derris indica Bennet (Fabaceae), Ocimum sanctum L. (Lamiaceae), Plumeria alba L. (Apocynaceae), Psidium guajsva L. (Myrtaceae) and Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels. (Myrtaceae) against two mosquito species viz. Aedes albopictus Skuse and Cu/ex quinqufasciatus Say. Additional experiments to determine their bioactive potentials like lethality against the brine shrimp, Artemia salina L. nauplii, dose-mortality and repellency against the red flour beetle, Triblium castaneum (Hbst.) adults were also carried out. Isolation, purification and characterization of plant component(s) were also done to establish step-forward positive control measure(s) against two mosquito species from the pest control and pharmaceutical point of view. Larvicidal activity The Petroleum ether (Pet.E.), chloroform (CHC'3) and methanol (CH3OH) extracts of leaf, stem bark, stem wood and roots of D. indica, leaves of A. scholaris, P. albs, ps. guajava, S. cumini and whole plant of 0. sanctum was tested to evaluate the larvicidal potential against the two mosquito species Ae. a/bopictus and C. quinqufasciatus larvae through larvicidal activity. Against Ae. albopictus the extracts yielded significant results with dose levels ranged between 600 to 3.13ppm; and the observation of mortality was made after 6h of application and with 6h interval up to 30 hours. According to the intensity of activity the plants could be arranged in the following descending order: D. indica > P. alba > 0. sanctum > Ps. guajava > A. scholaris > S. cumini. Against C. quinquefasciatus the extracts yielded results with the same dose levels and observation intervals. According to the intensity of activity the plants could be arranged in the following descending order: D. indica > 0. sanctum >P. alba > A. scholaris > Ps. guajava > S. cumini. Among the selected plants D. indica was found promisingly active and thus it was taken in to consideration for dose-mortality, repellency and brine shrimp lethality tests.
Assessment of Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) Performance and Surface Water Quality in Effluent Discharged Area at Savar Tannery Estate in Bangladesh
(University of Rajshahi, 2024) Monira, Umama; Mostafa, Md. Golam; Sattar, Golam Sabbir
An enormous amount of effluent that contains a number of harmful substances is produced by tannery industries. In Bangladesh, inadequately treated effluent discharge from the Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) is a significant environmental and social issue. There is a Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) at Savar Tannery Industrial Estate in Bangladesh to treat the composite tannery effluent, which consists of 132 tannery industries. The study is targeted to assess the performance of the Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) and evaluate the surface water and groundwater quality in the effluent discharged area of the Savar tannery estate in Bangladesh. All the samples were collected three times (pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon) in a year, from the monsoon of 2021 to the pre-monsoon of 2023.The composite effluent samples were collected before entering and discharging points of the CETP and analyzed for various physicochemical parameters to assess the performance of the CETP. There were five surface water samples collected from different locations, starting from the CETP discharge point and at different distances, i.e., 100, 500, 1000, and 2000 meters from the CETP discharge point, and the samples were named SW1, SW2, SW3, SW4, and SW5, respectively, as well as several groundwater samples collected around the CETP. The study results showed high values of EC, TSS, TDS, TH, BOD, COD, NO3 --N, SO4 2-,HCO3-, PO4 3-, Cl-, and metals (Na, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn) in the composite tannery influent and effluent collected from before entering and discharging points of the CETP tannery estate at Savar. The values of the physicochemical and anionic parameters were above the standard permissible limits of effluent discharge prescribed by the ISW-BDSECR (2023), DoE-BD (2023), and NEQS (2000). The higher values of TDS and TSS inthe tannery effluent were due to the presence of various organic and inorganic substances.The pH values were 8.6 and 7.5 in the influent and effluent, respectively, indicating a neutral to slightly alkaline range. The average values of DO, BOD, and COD were 0.7, 573, and 1646 mg/L in the influent and 0.9, 96.7, and 337 mg/L in the effluent, respectively, causing serious surface water pollution in the areas. Higher COD and BOD levels indicate reduced oxygen concentration, or lower DO values, in the influent and effluent. The average EC was 11430 μS/cm in the influent and 10190 μS/cm in the
Assessment of Water Pollution and its Impact on Fisheries Resources of Posna Beel, Kalihati, Tangail
(University of Rajshahi, 2006) Alam, Ashraful; Jahan, M. Sarwar; Zaman, M.
Posna Beel is an important perennial waterbody in Kalihati Upazila of Tangail District. The heel area is 121.5 ha in monsoon and 9 .0 ha in dry period. The heel is the main source of fish for Pouzan, Balla, Rampur and Elenga Bazars. A research work for two years was carried out on the water quality, Agro-chemical use, and pesticide residue and beel sediment of Posna heel. From water quality monitoring, it was found that the heel water was very suitable for open water fisheries. The levels of concentration of some water pollutants such as ammonia (0.012-0.076 mg/I) and nitrate (0.15-0.48 mg/1) were very low while the biochemical parameters such as BOD5 (2.70-5.43 mg/I) and COD (5.20-8.15 mg/l) were slightly high. Nitrite was found zero round the year. The values of DO vary from 6.66 mg/I to 9.66 mg/1, which was suitable for fishes and other biota. According to the field survey, the farmers in the beet area was found to using 113.14 kg urea per acre against the government recommendation level of 87.0 kg per acre. On the other hand, application of TSP, MP and Gypsum were lower than the government recommendation level. Both the bee! water and sediment were free from Organophosphorus and Carbamate pesticides. However, a very trace amount of Organochlorine (DDT, heptachlor and dieldrin) pesticide was found in the beel sediment and water sample, which was negligible in the context of pollution. From the survey on agrochemical use, it was found that farmers around the Posna beet were not using organochlorine pesticides in HYV Boro field. The presence of a trace amount of Organochlorine pesticides in water and sediment samples may be for the past use of these pesticides for mosquito eradication in this area.
Availability and Rational Utilization of Fisheries Resources of the Chalan Beel
(University of Rajshahi, 2016) Kostori, Mosammat Fahmida Akhter; Islam, M. Nazrul; Parween, Selina
The present study was carried out during the period from July 2010 to June 2013. Chalan Beel is the largest and most important wetland in the North Central Bangladesh covering an area of about 368 km2 during the monsoon season. The present investigation was carried out to determine existing fisheries status; fish catch composition, fishing seasons, fishing gears and crafts used, fishermen’s socio-economic welfare, and identify the scope of opportunities to evolve existing fisheries management strategies focusing on fish bio-diversity conservation. During the study period, a total of 117 bony fish species (Osteichthyes) under 63 genera, 27 families and 12 orders are identified. From the study area 35 species of fisheries items were recorded under the classes Gastropoda and Pelecypoda (Mollusca), Crustacea (Arthropoda), Amphibia and Reptilia (Chordata). The highest number of fish species thirty eight (38) was identified under the family Cyprinidae and Puntius was the most dominant genus including eight (8) species. The study results indicate at least 27 fish species once considered as abundant but now being classified as threatened. The annual fish production in the Chalan Beel was 11999 tons in 2012, being reduced by 45% of the production observed 30 years back (1982). In the present study, total 36 types of gears including 9 types of net, 11 types of trap, 7 types of hook and line, 7 types of wounding gears and 2 types of FAD (Fish Aggregating Device) were recorded. The maximum and minimum mesh size was found as 4.50±4.27cm and 0.09±0.08cm in Suti jal and Jhaki jal respectively. Highest CPUE (Catch Per Unit Effort) was found for Suti jal (69.2±25.2) and lowest for Khepla jal (3.75±2.61). Illegal fishing gears were found as the major problems in the study area. The annual total landing of various species from the Chalan Beel was recorded. Highest landing was 3673117 kg/yr in Mohisluty fish landing centre (Tarash), and the highest landed species was Pangasius sutchi (434705 kg/yr) in Singra fish landing centre (Singra). The peak fish landing was found in the months of November and December, and the lowest fish landing was recorded in the months of March and April. Five types of marketing channels were identified and the commission agents usually earn at a rate of 3%-4% from the farmers. Most of the fish of the Chalan Beel (nearly about 60%) is locally supplied and 40% is supplied from outside (other parts of Bangladesh). Infrastructure of wholesale and retail fish markets were not adequate with regarding to sales area, packaging, sanitation, water supply, drainage, cleaning, washing and maintenance with an exceptions. In the study period, six (6) Chatals (fish drying area) at Singra, eleven (11) at Tarash and five (5) at Gurudaspur were observed. Each Chatal can give a space for 70-80 maunds of fish for drying. After drying 10-11 kg dry fish are obtained per maund of raw fish. Among the dried products 8-9 kg are of excellent quality and rest 1-2 kg are of low quality. A total 28 species of fishes and fisheries items identified which are used for drying, partly damaged fishes are used. Dry fish farmers usually bought raw fishes from the local markets or landing center. Majority drying were done by spreading raw fishes on bamboo rack without any protection measure from insect or dust. Maximum dried products were carried to Sayadpur (Nilphamary) dry fish wholesale market. It was observed that about 117 different kinds of pesticides were used in the Chalan Beel area. The average pesticides usage in the crop lands within the Chalan Beel was 2.75 kg ha-1 crop -1. Farmers are using chemical fertilizer to meet the increasing demand of food for the excess population and to take economic benefit from land. Poverty is the main problem of Bangladesh. Poverty with rapid population growth compels the people to over exploit natural resources like land and water. The use of chemical fertilizer and exploitation of ground water are increasing gallopingly. It was found that the ground water level of the study area is declining day by day. After six years (2007-2012), the ground water level decline of Singra was 1.47m (39.40%), Tarash 2.17m (43.11%) and Gurudashpur 1.80m (38.70%). Decline of ground water resulted in drying up of the aquifer of the beel along with lowering of its water level. The socio-economic status of the fishermen is very poor. They live from hand to mouth and lack hygiene knowledge, which causes different diseases; they are socially ignored and exploited by power group of people. Most of them are illiterate and few have primary level of education. Their land property is negligible in amount. The earner dependency ratio is 1:3.62 (highest in Gurudaspur). Overall the socio-economic status of the fishermen is very low and fishermen community in the study area is poorer among the poor. The socio-economic status of the fishermen could be developed through increasing education and giving technical support.
Changing Pattern of Wetlands and its Impact on Environment of Dhaka City
(University of Rajshahi, 2010) Shahabuddin, A. K. M.; Ahmed, Raquib
Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh is one of the populous Mega cities in the world. High density population as well as shortage of land causes intense densification in the existing built up. Rapid population growth creates extra pressure on the land of already overcrowded Dhaka city and the city is expanding in an unplanned and uncontrolled manner. One of the major adverse impacts of unplanned growth is destruction of environmentally sensitive areas. Dhaka city had a large number of wetlands both big and small, which includes rivers, canals, lakes, lowlands etc. But the wetlands have been shrinking with the passage of time. In recent years the speed of conversion of wetlands for housing and other infrastructures emerged as an alarming issue considering its adverse impact on environment. This study mainly focuses on three issues: i) Changes of wetlands in and around Dhaka city ii) Problems appeared in the city due to wetland change iii) Government's implications regarding wetland change. This research documented the extent of wetland change since 1960. To accomplish the work top maps of 1960 and three images of different years (Land sat TM, 1988; ALOS VNIR, 2008 and Goggle earth, 2008) were used. Findings reveal that a large portion of the wetlands has been lost and the rate of destruction of wetland is alarming. During the total study period (1960-2008), the city has lost 33% of water bodies and 52% of lowlands. During the period 1960-88 the water bodies decreased about 30 hectares per year and between 1988-2008 decreased about 6 hectares per year and lowlands decreased 29 hectares per year between 1960-1988, 315 hectares per year between 1988-2008. It is clearly observed from the analysis of change in land use dimension of selected wetlands areas that wetlands are mainly converted to built-up areas. It is also revealed from this analysis that the rate of transformation of wetland is highly related with urban settlement. This research tried to apprehend the perception of local people regarding the loss of wetlands through questionnaire survey. It is evident from the views of surveyed respondent’s mainly real estate companies and government organizations are involved in wetland loss and water logging is the main impact of wetland loss. The water logging becomes a burden for the inhabitants of Dhaka city and creating adverse social, physical, economic and environmental impacts. Interruption of daily work, children's problem going to school, disruption of electricity, risk of run of motor vehicle, damage of houses, problems in getting drinking water, sanitation problem, creating unhygienic situation and suffering from the disease are the encountered effects of water logging on city life. Respondents viewed that to overcome the water logging problem, all illegal structure from the wetlands need to remove immediately. This research carried out a thorough assessment of prevailing plans, acts, rules and regulations for wetland management. The present wetland management of the public agencies has been critically analyzed and their overlapping and conflicting areas were identified. Activities of different environmental groups were also reviewed in this study. The investigation undertaken for this study reveals that the present management practices of government organizations are very weak and not at all systematic. The existing legal tools of different agencies are not exercised properly. Overlapping of functions among the agencies creates conflicts in management. The coordination status of government organizations are poor but the PLDCs, local influential people and others, those are involved in wetland change are highly organized and well coordinated. This study delivers the essence that combined effort is necessary from the part of involved stakeholders, like local people, NGOs, local government body, central government and civic organization to implement the conservation strategies of wetlands. Political will and government commitment is also needed for this purpose. In conclusion, some recommendations are made regarding proper demarcation of wetlands, strengthening the relevant GOs, strict development regulation and proper enforcement of laws towards conservation of wetlands.
Climatic changes of Rajshahi since 1972
(University of Rajshahi, 2017-08) Hossain, Md. Alamgir; Ansary, M. Abdullah
The study was carried out to examine the climatic change, causes, impacts, environmental effects and a survey was conducted to asses the environmental hazards in human life , animals, agricultural patterns etc .The secondary data analysis in Rajshahi station during the period of 39 (thirty nine) years since 1972- 2010. The first chapter points out the issues of the research and its background, and formulates research questions and objectives. Scope, limitations and utility of the present research have been stated here. Available literature has been reviewed here to identify research questions and to rationalize the study. This study deals with the introducing about the global and local climatic changing patterns. Causes, impacts and climatic background have been discussed briefly in chapter two. Especially, it reveals the climatic feature of Rajshahi district and various tables, figures have been presented in chapter three. The forth chapter discusses the research methods and the data sources required for this study. Primary data have been collected from respondents through questionnaire survey, face-to-face interview, and observations. And secondary data have been collected through document analysis from different books, journals, websites and so on. Sample size is 3 88 households where 50 are highly educated, teachers, specialists, officials etc. Random sampling procedure is used to select study respondents from rural and urban. Make a questionnaire surveys and interviews, observing rural and urban area are discussed in this chapter. The data obtained from the secondary sources have been analyzed and mathematically represented in the fifth chapter. Collected data have been presented in different ways. Here we develop various mathematical formulas to predict of different climatic parameters in Rajshahi station, which may be taken model equations for prediction. Some of the parameters have been put into tables and some have been presented in bar-diagrams and pie charts. Chapter six deals with the discussions of causes of climatic elements change. Mainly, we discuss about causes of climatic elements change in Rajshahi district. It includes, Farakka Barrage of upstream of the Padma River and local people opinion about climatic elements change. Also, this study deals with introducing consequences of climatic elements change which have been discussed briefly in chapter six. We discuss various impact of climatic change on crops, trees, surface water, ground water, river, ponds, ditches etc. Local people opinions and influence of Farakka Barrage have been discussed briefly in this chapter. In chapter seven we discuss about strategy and policy which should take in this area. Conclusions have been drawn in chapter eight. Also we cite findings and recommendation of this thesis works. Some hints for further study have been added for future researchers of this field.
Conversion of Corn Waste into Value Added Products
(University of Rajshahi, 2016) Yeasmin, Mst. Sarmina; Mondal, Md. Ibrahim H.; Sayeed, Md. Abu
Corn waste is an abundant lignocellulosic agricultural waste. The chemical composition of corn waste such as stalks, husks, cobs and leaves was analyzed to get cellulose, hemicelluloses, lignin, fatty and waxy matters, pectic matters and aqueous extract. Corn husk contained higher amount of cellulose (45%), was furnished as the raw material for the production of food-grade carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). Cellulose was carboxymethylated using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and monochloroacetic acid (MCA), in aqueous ethanolic medium, under heterogeneous conditions. The carboxymethylation reaction was optimized in terms of DS with respect to the cellulose particle size, NaOH concentration, MCA concentration, reaction temperature and reaction time. By-products of the etherification reaction such as sodium glycolate and sodium chloride were removed in a series of alcohol washes and separations, and sodium salts content in the purified CMC was determined. The degree of substitution (DS) was determined using chemical method. The CMC product had an optimized DS of 2.41 and the optimal conditions for carboxymethylation were NaOH concentration, 7.5 molL-1; MCA concentration, 12 molL-1; reaction temperature, 55°C; reaction time, 3.5 h and cellulose particle size, 74 µm. These optimization factors allowed to prepare highly substituted CMC with higher purity, providing plenty of opportunities for its manifold applications. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of CMC were carried out to determine molecular weight, purity, yield, solubility; water and oil holding capacities, moisture, ash and gel contents. Characterizations of cellulose and CMC were carried out by analyzing the spectra of FTIR, XRD patterns, SEM photomicrographs and TGA thermogram. The molecular structure of the CMC was determined by the analysis of 13C NMR spectra. Microbiological testing of the prepared CMC was done by the pour plate method. Concentrations of heavy metals in the puriﬁed CMC were measured by AAS technique and found to be within the WHO/FAO recommended value. Solubility, yield, molecular weight and DS of CMC increased with decreased cellulose particle sizes. A comparative study with CMC available in the international market was conducted. The purity of the prepared CMC was higher, at 99.99% well above the purity of 99.5% for standard CMC. High purity CMC showed yield 2.4 g/g , water holding capacity 5.11 g/g, oil holding capacity 1.59 g/g, ash content 18.05%, moisture content 2.21% & gel content 99.96%. Extensive analysis for potential external contaminants of CMC such as heavy metals (arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury) and microbial contaminants, such as Total plate count, Yeast and Mold, Colliform, Salmonella and E. coli that are generally associated with food products, suggest either the absence of these contaminants or their presence at very low levels that are considered as safe. Similarly, the presence of processing aids and by-products from the manufacturing are minimized in the final product to levels that are safe for human consumption. The product meets or exceeds the specification or purity requirements of the FCC, USP and JECFA. A study was conducted to assess the toxicity of prepared CMC when administered orally, via dietary admixture, to Swiss albino mice (5/sex/group) at dose levels of 0 (control), 5, 10, and 20 mg/g body weight/day for a period of at least 3 months. Studies were conducted in compliance with OECD principles of Good Laboratory Practice and according to OECD Guidelines 408. Animals were observed for mortality, morbidity, body weight changes, feed and water intake. Urinary, biochemical and haematological assessments as well as body and organ weights of the mice were carried out at every one month. After 3 months of treatment, all mice scheduled for terminal sacriﬁce were killed and selected organs were weighed. Complete macroscopic examinations and histopathological evaluation of selected tissues were conducted on all animals. No major abnormalities in the histopathology of liver, kidney, heart and lung were detected compared to control group under microscope. This indicated that the compound has no toxic effect on cellular structure. No mortality occurred during the study. Water intake, urine production and urinary sodium, calcium and citrate excretion increased with increasing doses of CMC due to their increasing sodium intake. Body weight, water and food consumption, haematology, clinical biochemistry, behavioural observational assessments and organ weights did not reveal any signiﬁcant, consistent, dose-dependent test article-related adverse effects. A no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) from the present study was determined to be 20 mg/g body weight/day for mice under the conditions of this study, the highest dose tested. These ﬁndings support the safety of CMC for use as an excipient or as food additives and for pharmaceuticals.
Determination of the Effect of Mushroom on Arsenicosis Patients by Analyzing Physico-Chemical and Biological Parameters
(University of Rajshahi, 2016) Jahangir, M.; Rahman, Md. Redwanur
Arsenic is a toxic element for animals and the majority of plants, in spite of evidence that it is also an essential element. There are well-identified regions where arsenic ground water concentrations can reach values higher than 2 mg/L. The long term arsenic exposure via drinking water causes cancer like skin, lungs, heart and blood vessels, kidney and urinary bladder, reproductive organs, leukemia, rather than ceutaneous lesions (Keratosis, melanosis, leucomelanosis etc.). Pleurotus ostreatus has a medicinal value which can prevent cancer by reducing the arsenic accumulation in the patients. The spectroscopic (GF-AAS) determination of arsenic in biological samples (hair/nail) before and after application of Pleurotus ostreatus has given a tremendous solution for arsenicosis treatment. This study revealed that 42.6% of people were arsenic affected. We have selected 184 arsenic affected patients out of 571 respondents; among them 61.4% female and 38.6% are male patients. In 78.3% are married people, 48.9% female and 29.3% are male; and 7.6% of female and 9.2% of male are in the section of 16.8% unmarried personals. The educational status is interesting. Maximum people are illiterate (56.5%) and no one in university level; others are 18.5% in primary, 19.6% in secondary and 5.4% in higher secondary school. There are only 33.8% are employed, the fields and percentages are respectively group 1 (agriculture and unskilled workers), group 2 (shop keepers, tailors, salesman, carpenter etc.), and group 3 (teachers and other services) are respectively 23.4%, 8.2%, 2.2%. Maximum females are house wives (53.3%) and 8.2% are female students. Male students are only 1.6%. Unemployed, old and retired farmers are 3.3%. There are suspected 8 deaths from arsenic induced lung cancer. The differential studies of vital signs are blood pressure, pulse rate, respiratory rate, body temperature with them two important investigations for arsenicosis patients are BMI and urine’s pH value and specific gravity. The study revealed that maximum patients were suffering from low systolic pressure (38.6%) and also from high systolic pressure (35.8%). After treatment no gross changes found in systolic blood pressure. Diastolic blood pressure had not any countable responses of medicines like SBP. The pulse rate has a similar result like blood pressure. Here the patients from normal range are slightly increased after treatment (from 17.3% to 22.7%). But most of the patients have high pulse rates. In accordance to body temperature, the percentage of the patients in normal range is increased greatly after treatment (from 29.9% to 74.4%). Body temperature is one of the identifying marks for infection or inflammation present in the body. So this condition is reduced in the patients by Pleurotus ostreatus treatment. Here respiration rate is more important for arsenicosis patients. Because the arsenicosis patients in this area were dying of lung disease or cancer. Here 96.0% patients have high respiration rate and normal are only in 4.0%. After treatment the normal range is increased to 10.0%. A long time treatment can change the patients to normal. The normal value of BMI was in 51.1% patients and 36.9% were in low BMI. So it can be said that poverty or obesity is not the factor for arsenicosis disease. Maximum pH values of urine of the patients were acidic (91.4%), after treatment it reduced to 86.0%. Long time acidic nature in the body can produce cancer. After a long time Pleurotus ostreatus treatment, the possibility of cancer can be reduce by reducing acidic nature in the patients. But the specific gravity of urine was normal in maximum patients (81.3%), after treatment it increased to 82.6%.....................................
Eco- friendly Pest Control in Vegetable Fields Using Botanicals form Jute (Corchorus capsularies)
(University of Rajshahi, 2015) Sultana, Papia; Azad, Md. Abul Kalam; Alam, Md. Jahangir
The study consists of two different types of experiments: screening of botanicals and evaluation of the comparative performances of siperin and botanicals including jute seed for the control of vegetables pest. This Ph.D. research work was carried out in three years (July, 2011-June, 2014) in the laboratory of the Entomology Division, Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture, Mymensing and Botanical Pesticides Lab., Institute of Environmental Science, Rajshahi University. In the screening experiment, extracts of ten selected botanicals viz. jute seed (Corchorus capsularies), jute leaves (Corchorus capsularies), urmoi leaves (Sapium imdicum), arahar leaves (Cajanus cajan), custard apple leaves (Annona reticuleta), ganda leaves and stems (Tagetes patula), nisinda leaves (Vitex negundo), lantana leaves (Lantana camara), kalomegh leaves and stems (Andrographis paniculata) and holde hurhuri (Cleome viscosa) were applied on red pumpkin beetle, black bean aphid and okra jassid and ovserved the significamnt mortality (%) at the different days of intervals. In case of red pumpkin beetle, jute seed exerted the mortality upto 70% at 24 hours, which reached to 83.33% at 48, 72 and 96 hours, respectively. During this period, jute seed showed about 1.90, 1.49, 4.19, 1.10, 7.00, 3.00, 1.49, 4.19 and 5.25 times higher performances in comparison with jute leaves, urmoi leaves, arhar leaves, custard apple leaves, ganda leaves, nisinda leaves, lantana leaves, kalomegh and halde hurhuri, respectively. This trend of insecticidal efficiences were also almost applicable in black been aphid and okra jassid at 12, 24, 36 and 48 hrs. However, there was no significant variation between the botanicals but in most of the cases, jute seed showed the highest performance whereas custard apple leaves and urmoi leaves ranked in the 2nd and 3rd highest positions, respectively. After screening three best botanicals eg. jute seeds, custard apple leaves and urmoi leaves were applied on red pumpkin beetle, black bean aphid and okra jassid (@ 5%, 7.5% and 10%) along with chemical insecticide siperin (@ 0.05%, 0.10% and 0.2%) in the laboratory condition. This study identified significant effect of botanicals as well as siperin on the mortality (%) of red pumpkin beetle. Siperin caused 63.33% mortality after 96 hrs. In the same interval (96 hrs) jute seed and custard apple leaves as well as urmoi leaves showed mortality upto 46.50, 38.33 and 37.50%. The study also found that the significant effect of botanicals and siperin on % weight loss of cucumber leaves where siperin caused lowest (28.02%) and jute seed produced the 2nd minimum 29.74 % wt. loss, respectively. The study also measured the mortality (%) of black bean aphid upto 66.67% for siperin, 53.36 % from jute seed, 44.17% from custard apple leaves and 42.50% from urmoi leaves after 48 hrs intervals. On the other hand, mortality (%) of okra jassid found upto 62.08% in siperin whereas jute seed, custard apple and urmoi leaves revealed 48.75, 36.67 and 35.00% mortality, respectively at the same interval. Howover, the study confirmed that a higher concentration of botanicals and a long treatment time ensured more % mortality of red pumpkin beetle, black bean aphid and okra jassid. The study also estimated the significant effect of siperin (0.1%) and botanicals (10%) on growth parameters and yield of vegetables, cucumber (3.96 kg/plant as the highest yield such even than that of siperin), country bean (1.78 kg/plant as the 2nd highest pod yield just after siperin) and okra (0.854 kg/plant having no statistical differences with siperin). The study concluded that amongst the studied botanicals, jute seed mostly minimized the insect infestation, control treatment gave the lowest performences in respect to vegetative growth and yield as well as insect infestation in cucumber, country bean and okra fields.
Eco-friendly Management of Tannery Solid Wastes in Bangladesh
(University of Rajshahi, 2013) Islam, Raju Muhammad Shahidul; Jahan, Md. Sarwar
Bangladesh has the potential of developing leather industries due to having quality raw materials (hides and skins) and cheapest laborer market. But still no new entrepreneurs are attracted to set up new leather industries here because of generating huge amount of untreated pollutants from tannery and no one wants to bear the environmental risks of this country. Accordingly, generation, existing management system and impact assessment along with possible utilization of the tannery solid wastes as value added products were considered for investigations. The existing management system of tannery solid wastes and its consequences were investigated through field survey with structured and unstructured questionnaire; the tannery workers, technologists, officials were interviewed during 2009-2011. The maximum amount of solid wastes generated was measured in the peak season (October-December) in the year 2011 through developed formula and found 443 metric ton solid wastes were generated in a day from tannery at Hazaribagh, Dhaka. It was also observed that 90% of the trimmers, (tannery workers) were directly affected by those solid wastes, the surrounding environment became polluted and soil of dumping ground was contaminated with organic carbon (7.97% ±0.170), organic matter (13.70% ±0.292), TKN (1.54% ±0.137), Chloride (0.247% ±0.0284) and Chromium (2.28 ±0.0291). The manufacturing of Animal glue through appropriate utilization of more solid wastes, was targeted as a tool of tannery waste management. Its traditional glue manufacturing process was modified for producing animal glue from fleshings and pickle cuttings mixing with raw trimmings which imparted better physical and chemical properties in comparison to the sample glue collected from local market manufactured following traditional method. The main target of this research had to enhance the efficacy of by-product industry through process modification and integrating with the main industry so that the solid wastes generated from tannery need not to be dumped and used at the point of origin triggered to the eco-friendly environment. The findings of this work along with the findings of the previous researchers created a hope for further progress in research in the field of leather technology and its eco-friendly environmental management.
Effect of Plant Extracts on Laboratory Organisms and Biodegrading Agents Found in the Industrial Effluent
(University of Rajshahi, 2014) Shalim, Rukhshana; Islam, Md. Nurul
To determine whether or not the plant extracts affecting biodegrading agents that normalize industrial effluent sample plants known as bionomalizers i.e. Carica papaya Linn., Moringa oliefera Lam. and Musa sapientum L. were taken into consideration through dose mortality against the stored grain pest Tribolium castaneum (Hbst.), cytotoxicity against the brine shrimp Artemia salina nauplii and antibacterial activity against the 9 bacterial isolates from the tannery effluent and 7 certain other bacteria as laboratory test agents were done. Leaf, stem and roots of C. papaya; fruit, leaf, stem bark, stem wood, root bark and root wood of M. oliefera, and leaf, stem and roots of Mu. sapientum were extracted in petroleum ether, chloroform and methanol. For C. papaya extracts against T. castaneum beetles the dose mortality was done through residual film assay to yield the highest and the lowest mortality for the CH3OH extract of roots (LD50 0.114mg cm-2) and CHCl3 extracts of stem (LD50 2.053mg cm-2) after 48h of exposure, while the CHCl3 extracts of leaf and root didn’t offer any mortality to the beetles. According to the intensity of activity observed through dose mortality test against the adult beetles the potentiality of the Pet.E., CHCl3 and CH3OH extracts could be arranged in a descending order: root (CH3OH) > stem (CH3OH) > leaf (CH3OH) > root (Pet.E.) > leaf (Pet.E.) > stem (Pet.E.) > stem (CHCl3) extract. For M. oliefera the highest and the lowest mortality have been observed for the CH3OH extract of root bark (LD50 0.276mg cm-2) and Pet.E. extract of root wood (LD50 0.629mg cm-2) after 48h of exposure. According to the intensity of activity observed through mortality of the adult beetles the potentiality of the Pet.E. and methanol extracts could be arranged in a descending order: root bark (CH3OH) > stem bark (CH3OH) > root bark (Pet.E.) > fruit (CH3OH) > root wood (CH3OH) > stem bark (Pet.E.) > stem wood (CH3OH) > root wood (Pet.E.) extract. For Mu. sapientum the highest and the lowest mortality have been observed for the CH3OH extract of stem (LD50 0.163mg cm-2) and Pet.E. extract of leaf (LD50 1.195mg cm-2) after 48h of exposure. According to the intensity of activity observed through mortality of the adult beetles the potentiality of the extracts could be arranged in a descending order: stem (CH3OH) > root (CH3OH) > leaf (CH3OH) > stem (Pet.E.) > root (Pet.E.) > leaf (Pet.E.) extract. For C. papaya against the A. salina nauplii the highest and the lowest mortality have been observed for the CHCl3 extract of leaf (LC50 1.326ppm) and CH3OH extracts of leaf (LC50 183.443ppm) after 24h of exposure. According to the intensity of activity observed through dose mortality test against the adult beetles the potentiality of the Pet.E., CHCl3 and CH3OH extracts could be arranged in a descending order: leaf (CHCl3) > root (CH3OH) > stem (CHCl3) > stem (Pet.E.) > stem (CH3OH) > root (CHCl3) > root (Pet.E.) > leaf (Pet.E.) > leaf (CH3OH) extract. For M. oliefera the highest and the lowest mortality have been observed from the CHCl3 extract of root bark (LC50 4.197ppm) and CH3OH extracts of fruit (LC50 234.246ppm) after 24h of exposure respectively. According to the intensity of activity observed through dose mortality test against the adult beetles the potentiality of the Pet.E., CHCl3 and CH3OH extracts could be arranged in a descending order: root bark (CHCl3) > root bark (CH3OH) > stem wood (CHCl3) > stem wood (CH3OH) > root wood (CHCl3) > stem wood (Pet.E.) > stem bark (CHCl3) > fruit (Pet.E.) > root bark (Pet.E.) > fruit (CHCl3) > root wood (Pet.E.) > fruit (CH3OH) > stem bark (CH3OH) > leaf (Pet.E.) > root wood (CH3OH) > leaf (CH3OH) extract. For Mu. sapientum the highest and the lowest mortality have been observed from the CH3OH extract of leaf bark (LC50 22.991ppm) and Pet.E. extract of leaf (LC50 127.604ppm) after 24h of exposure. According to the intensity of activity observed through dose mortality test against the adult beetles the potentiality of the Pet.E., CHCl3 and CH3OH extracts could be arranged in a descending order: leaf (CH3OH) > leaf (CHCl3) > stem (CHCl3) > root (Pet.E.) > stem (Pet.E.) > root (CHCl3) > root (CH3OH) > stem (CH3OH) > leaf (Pet.E.) extract. Bacterial strains were isolated from tannery effluent. Fifteen colonies were screened from initial level of effluent on nutrient agar media. Out of fifteen colonies, nine isolates were selected for biochemical test and other studies. Selected isolates were: two isolates from sample 1 (isolate 1 and 2), four from sample 2 (isolate 3, 4, 5 and 6) and three from sample 3 (isolate 7, 8 and 9). The isolates were determined as 1. Bacillus cereus, 2. Klebsiella oxytoca, 3. Staphylococcus aureus, 4. Escherichia coli (I), 5. Escherichia coli (II) 6. Citrobacter freundii, 7. Proteus vulgaris, 8. Bacillus subtilis, 9. Salmonella typhimurium. Physico–chemical characteristics of the tannery effluent were also determined along with the characterization of the found bacterial isolates. The Pet.E., CHCl3 and CH3OH extract of C. papaya (leaf, stem and root),M. oliefera (fruit, leaf, stem bark, stem wood, root bark and root wood) and Mu. sapientum (leaf, stem and root) were tested against 7 selected bacteria (2 Gram positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococccus aureus and 5 Gram negative bacteria Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella enteritidis, Shigella flexneri and Shigella sonnei) to evaluate their antibacterial potential at a concentration of 200 and 400μg disc-1 along with a standard antibiotic, Ampicillin 10μg disc-1 and 9 isolates (from industrial effluent) to evaluate their antibacterial potential at a concentration of 400μg disc-1 along with a standard antibiotic, Kanamycin30μg disc-1. Among the C. papaya extracts the root extracts showed the highest antibacterial activity. Only the B. subtilis (roots/CHCl3 gave 20mm diam. for 400μg disc-1), K. pneumoniae (stem/CHCl3 gave 09mm in diam. for 400μg disc-1) and St. aureus (leaf/Pet.E. gave 09mm in diam, stem/CHCl3 gave 10mm in diam., roots/Pet.E. and CH3OH gave 15mm and 10mm in diam. respectively, while all the tests were for 400μg disc-1) were responsive among the selected test bacteria. Among the M. oleifera extracts the stem wood extracts showed the highest antibacterial activity. Only the (fruit/Pet.E. and stem bark/CHCl3 both gave 09mm in diam. for 400μg disc- 1), K. pneumoniae (fruit and stem wood/CHCl3 gave 11 and 10mm in diam. both for 400μg disc-1) and St. aureus (fruit/Pet.E. and CHCl3 gave 10mm and 09mm in diam., leaf/ Pet.E. gave 09mm in diam., and stem bark/Pet.E. and CH3OH gave 09 and 10mm in diam. respectively, stem wood/Pet.E. and CH3OH gave 10 and 12mm in diam. respectively, root bark/Pet.E. and CHCl3 gave 11mm and 09mm in diam., and root wood/CHCl3 gave 10mm in diam., while all the tests were for 400μg disc-1) were responsive among the selected test bacteria. Among the Mu. sapientum extracts the root extracts showed the highest antibacterial activity. Only the St. aureus (stem and roots/Pet.E. gave 08mm and 10mm in diam., for 400μg disc-1) were responsive among the selected test bacteria. According to the susceptibility test bacteria could be arranged in a descending order of St. aureus > B. subtilis > K. pneumoniae. The Pet.E., CHCl3 and CH3OH extract of C. papaya (leaf, stem and root),M. oliefera (fruit, leaf, stem bark, stem wood, root bark and root wood) and Mu. sapientum (leaf, stem and root) were tested against 9 isolates viz. 1. Bacillus cereus, 2. Klebsiella oxytoca, 3. Staphylococcus aureus, 4. Escherichia coli (I), 5. Escherichia coli (II), (for the iolates 4 and 5 the strains were different but determination was not done) 6. Citrobacter freundii, 7. Proteus vulgaris, 8. Bacillus subtilis, 9. Salmonella typhimurium. Among the 9 Isolates Isolate 8 B. subtilis was highly responsive to the Pet.E. and CHCl3 extracts of C. papaya stem (15 and 08mm), M. oliefera fruit (14 and 09mm) and root bark (10 and 16mm), and Mu. sapientum root (10 and 10mm) respectively; to the Pet.E. extracts of C. papaya root (11mm), M. oliefera root wood (11mm), Mu. sapientum stem (10mm), and to the CHCl3 extract of M. oliefera stem bark (08mm). Next to the Isolate 8 it was Isolate 2 K. oxytoca responsive to the Pet.E. extract of C. papaya leaf (08mm), M. oliefera fruit (08mm), Mu. sapientum leaf (15mm) and root (10mm); and to the CHCl3 extract of C. papaya leaf (08mm), M. oliefera stem bark (08mm), stem wood (08mm) and root bark (08mm); followed by the Isolate 1 B. cereus which was responsive to the Pet.E. extracts of C. papaya stem (16mm), M. oliefera fruit (10mm) and Mu. sapientum stem (8mm) and root (10mm); this was followed by Isolate 3 St. aureus which was responsive to the Pet.E. extracts of C. papaya stem (10mm), M. oliefera fruit (13mm) and Mu. spaientum root (08mm) and again the CHCl3 extract of M. oliefera stem bark (08mm). This was followed by the Isolate 6 Citrobacter freundii where CHCl3 extract of C. papaya stem (08mm) and Pet.E. extract of Mu. sapientum leaf (10mm) were found responsive. Isolate 4 E. coli (I) and 5 E. coli (II) (but different strains) and 9 Sa. typhimurium show response against Pet.E. extract of C. papaya stem (08mm), M. oliefera fruit (08mm) and CHCl3 extract of M. oliefera stem wood (09mm) respectively. According to the susceptibility test bacteria could be arranged in a descending order of B. subtilis > K. oxytoca > St. aureus = B. cereus > Citrobacter freundii > E. coli (I) = E. coli (II) = Sa. typhimurium. Isolate 7 P. vulgaris was not responsive to any of the 12 extracts of the 3 test plants. For Kanamycin 30g disc-1 the inhibition zones for the Isolate 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 were 50, 35, 35, 40, 36, 42, 42, 55 and 40mm respectively. The differences of the clear zones given by Ampicillin 10μg disc-1(tested against the 7 bacteria) and Kanamycin 30g disc-1 (tested against the 9 isolates) were nearly the same in majority of the test cases. The bacterial isolates found in the industrial effluent, i.e. B. subtilis, St. aureus, one of the E coli strains, another species of Klebsiella, K. oxytoca, another species of Salmonella, Sa. typhimurium were among the list of available 7 test bacteria of the Institute of Environmental Science (IES), R.U. and the response in that separate experiments nearly resembles the results got against the 9 isolates carried out afterwards. However, E coli among the 7 didn’t show any response at all. The activity of the Pet.E., CHCl3 and CH3OH extract of C. papaya (leaf, stem and root), M. oliefera (fruit, leaf, stem bark, stem wood, root bark and root wood) and Mu. sapientum (leaf, stem and root) were mild in activity in general, and P. vulgaris, Sa. typhimurium, both E. coli and Citrobacter freundii didn’t give any considerable clear zone. Thus, it could be mentioned that C. papaya, M. oliefera and Mu. sapientum plant materials are not so much effective against the biodegrading bacteria and obviously they are helpful in biodegradation of industrial effluents causing very insignificant harm to biodegrading bacteria.
Effects of Selected Indeginous Plant’s Extract on Diarrhoeal Diseases in Bangladesh
(University of Rajshahi, 2015) Das, Mrityunjoy; Uddin, Md. Belal
Babla (Acacia nilotica), Neem (Azadirachta indica) and Peyara (Psidium guajava) leaves have been using as a well-known remedy for the treatment of various types of disorders in the ayurvedic, homoeopathic and traditional system of medicine in Bangladesh, India and many other countries. Considering the medicinal importance and availability in Bangladesh, the plant species, A nilotica, A.indica and P.guajava leaves were collected from Rajshahi University campus and extracts were prepared using ethanol, methanol, petroleum ether, chloroform and ethyl acetate as solvents. Seven diarrhoeal bacteria were collected from the Department of Pharmacy and Institute of Biological Science of University of Rajshahi, and ICDDR, B. Dhaka. In this study, we have investigated antibacterial and cytotoxic activities of A.nilotica, A.indica and P.guajava leaves extracts. Antibacterial activity of the different extracts were evaluated at concentrations (100µg/disc) against Escherichia coli, Shigella boydii, Shigella dysenteriae, Shigella flexneri, Shigella shiga, Shigella sonnei and Vibrio cholerae bacteria. Ethanol, methanol, petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and chloroform extracts of A.nilotica leaves exhibited 10.67, 10.00, 9.33, 9.67 & 9.33 mm clear zone of inhibition against E.coli & V.cholerae; E.coli; V.cholerae; S.boydii and V.cholerae, with respect to standard ciprofloxacin disc (10 µg/disc). The same solvent extracts of A.indica leaves demonstrated 10.33, 9.67, 10.00, 9.67 and 9.33 mm clear zone against S.boydi; S.flexneri; S.shiga; V.cholerae and E.coli. Similarly, the extracts of P. guajava leaves indicated 9.33, 9.67, 9.33, 9.67 and 933 mm, the highest clear zone of inhibition against S.shiga; V.cholerae; S.shiga; S.sonnei and S.dysenteriae, respectively. Antibacterial activity was tested on seven diarrhoeal bacteria by the purified ethanol extract of A.nilotica leaves (compound E001). The compound E001 (100 µg/disc) was effective against all types of diarrhoeal bacteria. Extracts of A.nilotica, A.indica and P.guajava leaves showed detectable MIC against diarrhoeal bacteria. The lowest MIC of A.nilotica leaves of ethanol, methanol, petroleum ether, chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts were 16, 16, 32, 16 & 32 µg/ml against S.sonnei; S.flexneri; S.dysenteriae, S.boydii & S.flexneri; S.boydii and E.coli & S.sonnei, respectively. Similarly, the lowest MIC values of the extracts of A. indica leaves demonstrated 32, 32, 16, 32 & 16 µg/ml against S. dysenteriae, S. shiga & S. sonnei; S.shiga & S.sonnei; S.dysenteriae; S.shiga & V.cholerae and S.shiga, respectively. And the lowest MIC of the same solvent extracts of P. guajava leaves 32, 16, 32, 32 & 16 µg/ml against S. shiga, S. sonnei, & Vibrio cholera; S.dysenteriae; E.coli, S.shiga, S.sonnei & V.cholerae; S.dysenteriae & S.shiga and E.coli, respectively. It was observed that ethanolic extract of A.nilotica leaves showed the potent activity than other extracts. Cytotoxicity test was also performed with various extractives of A.nilotica, A.indica and P.guajava leaves through brine shrimp (Artemia salina) lethality bioassay. LC₅₀ values of A.nilotica leaves of ethanol, methanol, chloroform, ethyl acetate and petroleum ether extracts were found to be 395.581, 603.472, 830.236, 702.830 and 651.289 ppm, respectively. Similarly, LC₅₀ values of A. indica leaves extracts were 830.236, 651.289, 682.959, 830.236 and 774.694 ppm. and P. guajava leaves extracts were 651.289, 682.959, 830.236, 682.959 and 651.289 ppm. Among the tested extracts, ethanolic extract of A.nilotica leaves showed the highest cytotoxicity against Artemia salina. As ethanolic extract of A.nilotica leaves showed highest antibacterial and cytotoxicity activities. So, it was purified by PTLC and OCC methods. The purities and bioactivities of single purified compound E001 were reconfirmed by NMR study and further experiment on diarrhoeal bacteria. The isolated compound E001 was a steroid analogue and might be the derivatives of sitosterol. The phytochemical properties of different solvent extracts of A.nilotica leaves were investigated. The extracts showed the presence of saponins, tannins, glycosides, steroids, alkaloids, phenolic compounds, flavonoids and many other bioactive compounds. It has significant reducing power capacity, antioxidant activity and DPPH radical scavenging activity. The main targets of this research have traced out the isolated bioactive potentials from the ethanolic extract of A.nilotica leaves and significant response was found against diarrhoeal bacteria. This investigation of bioactive compound may ultimately find its use for the relief of the human diarrhoea in near future and thereby contribute a lot to the rural poor people of developing countries like Bangladesh.
Elemental Analysis of Some Selected Environmental Samples and Their Effect on Public Health
(University of Rajshahi, 2015) Bari, A. S. M. Shohidul; Rahman, Md. Redwanur
Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) and Particle Induced -ray Emission (PIGE) technique have been employed to perform essential and trace elemental analysis of some environmentally important samples including water, soil, fruits and vegetables from Rajshahi district of north-western part of Bangladesh by Tandem accelerator. Fluorine (F) has attracted serious attention in recent years because of the apparent role it plays in human health. The F content of ground water in the study area lies in the range of 0.96 to 2.01mg/L with a mean of 1.44 mg/L in monsoon season and winter season vary from 1.05 to 2.45mg/L with a mean 1.27mg/L. The maximum recommended value for Bangladesh being 1.00mg/L. The study present that 80% of the samples contain higher F than the recommended maximum which indicated the probability of F problem in drinking water for the population of Rajshahi region of Bangladesh. To find the source of F in ground water soil samples were analyzed. F content of soil in the study area lies in the range of 243 to 415mg/Kg with a mean of 312.5mg/Kg in monsoon season and concentration vary 200 to 401mg/Kg in winter season. Most of the investigated soil samples have values for F content above 300mg/kg, which is maximum permissible value for the content of this element in agriculture soil. It indicates that the F pollution of ground water may be caused by F bearing minerals. To know the F uptake by the population of the study area vegetables and fruits samples were analyzed but no samples contain F. So, it can be concluded that vegetables and fruits are not a significant source of F uptake of the population of this region. Manganese (Mn) content of ground water in the study area lies in the range of 0.11 to 0.33 mg/L in monsoon season and 0.23 to 0.58 mg/L in winter season. It shows that about 100% of the surveyed samples have Mn concentrations exceeding the Bangladesh drinking water standard of 0.1 mg/L but do not exceed the WHO health-based guideline value of 0.4 mg/L. Iron (Fe) content of ground water in the study area lies in the range of 0.95 to 2.03mg/L in monsoon season and 0.86 to 1.85 mg/L in winter season. The Bangladesh standard value being 1 mg/L and WHO guideline value 0.3mg/L. From the present study it is found that 80% of the studied samples contain higher Fe than the recommended maximum. Calcium (Ca) content of ground water in the study area lies in the range of 80 to 115mg/L in monsoon season 89 to 120mg/L in winter season. The standard WHO guideline value 75mg/L. From the present study it is found that 100% of the studied samples contain higher Ca than the recommended maximum Copper (Cu) content of ground water in the study area lies in the range of 0.29 to 1.1mg/L in monsoon and 0.49 to 1.13mg/L in winter season. The Bangladesh standard value being 1.3mg/L and WHO guideline value 1 mg/L. From the present study it is found that 100% of the studied samples contain lower concentration of Cu than the recommended maximum. Zinc (Zn) content of ground water in the study area lies in the range of 1.20 to 4.52mg/L in monsoon and concentration vary from 2.20 to 4.25mg/L in winter season. The WHO guideline value 5.0mg/L. From the present study it is found that 100% of the studied samples contain lower Zn than the recommended maximum. Soil samples of the study area were found to be rich in Cu, Mg, Mn, Ca and B but deficient in K, P and Zn. In the present study P was found in only two samples (567 & 409 mg/kg in monsoon season and 560 & 398 mg/kg in winter season) out of ten samples which are much lower than the optimum value (800 mg/kg). Concentration of K varies from 47 to 245 mg/kg in monsoon season and 55 to 180 mg/kg in winter season which is lower than the global range (78-273 mg/kg). So, P enriched fertilizer and potash fertilizer should be used in the study area and the farmer of this area should be made aware about the P and K deficiency of their lands. Soil samples of the study area are also found to be poor in Zn. Zinc-deficient soils can be easily treated with zinc fertilizers to provide an adequate supply of Zn to crops. Several different zinc compounds are utilized as fertilizers but zinc sulphate is by far the most widely used. PIXE technique has been employed to perform essential and trace elemental analysis of Zn, Ca, Fe, K, Cl, Cu, Mn, Br in some fruits and vegetables of Rajshahi region of Bangladesh. The selected fruits and vegetables are commonly consumed by all income groups of the locality. The concentration of the elements in each fruit and vegetable and their role for the nutrition of human being are discussed. It is clear that K and Ca are the most abundant detected elements in the samples. It is observed that in fruits Guava (Psidium guajava ) contains the highest amount of Ca (66800mg/kg) and Carambola (Averrhoa carambola) contain highest of K (28950mg/kg). In vegetables highest amount of Ca and K are exhibited by Turnip (Brassica rapa) (30541mg/kg) and Potato (Solanum tuberosum) (31098mg/kg) respectively. The Fe content fairly good in all fruit samples (varying from 250.30mg/kg in Amla (Emblica officinalis) to 545mg/kg in Papaya (Cavica Papaya)) and all vegetables samples (varying from 319 mg/kg in Bottle Gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) to 9230 mg/kg in Carrot (Daucus carota)). Zn content in the studied samples is highest in Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) (65mg/kg) in fruit and Carrot (Daucus carota) 110.05mg/kg in vegetables. Mn is found in all fruits and vegetables samples. Among them in vegetables Carrot (Daucus carota) contains highest amount (10mg/kg) of Mn and in fruits Olive contain highest amount (9mg/kg) of Mn. Copper content in the studied samples is found only in Pumkin (Cucurbita moschata) (26.87mg/kg) in vegetables and Carambola (Averrhoa carambola) (20.56mg/kg) in fruit which probably plays a role in prevention of inflammation, given that Cu is a useful anti-inflammatory agent. Highest CI content is found in vegetables in Potato (Solanum tuberosum) (7890mg/kg) and Carambola (Averrhoa carambola) (4567mg/kg) in fruit. The minimum chloride requirement for a healthy adult is 700mg/day. The deficiency of chlorine causes anorexia, weakness, growth failure, severe convulsions. Bromine only found in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) (118mg/kg) in vegetables. No toxic heavy metals were detected. The data from this study provide a preliminary assessment of the background levels of selected trace and essential elements of Rajshahi district. Therefore such studies will help us to understand the environmental pollution and its effects on human health. In the developed countries such analysis are done routinely to ensure the good health and quality of life of their citizens.
Emotional Intelligence of the Young Adolescents in Relation to Some Environmental Factors in Bangladesh
(University of Rajshahi, 2021) Sheikh, Md. Mahid; Khan, Md. Mozibul Huq Azad; Sufi, Anwarul Hasan
Emotional intelligence is a very significant subject matter of an individual. Specially for the adolescent period. No doubt the adolescent is the most significant period in the human development. In this stage there are a lot of unanswered question agonize the adolescent. In the adolescent period presence of emotional intelligence is very crucial because the person to identify, observe and control their emotions. The present study comprised a sample of 321 adolescent age ranged from 11-14 years was purposively selected from the readily available respondents. The study area was Rajshahi district as plain land (158 respondents) and Satkhira district as low land (163 respondents) of Bangladesh. The adapted Bangla version (Uzzaman and Karim, 2017) of emotional intelligence scale which was originally developed by Hyde et. al (2002) were administered for the data collection. After collecting all the data were checked and rechecked for omission instabilities and uncertainties. Data analysis was carried out by SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) software. Ethical issues were considered duly in collecting data. The result shows that the rural and urban young adolescents of plain and low land differ in their score of Emotional Intelligence. The urban adolescents possess better emotional intelligence than the rural adolescents. There are also found that the adolescent of private school possesses better emotional intelligence than the Government school adolescent. The adolescents from the favorable family environment possess better emotional intelligence than the adolescent of unfavorable family environment. The middle-class adolescent possesses better emotional intelligence than the lower-class adolescent. Also found that the level of emotional intelligence of male and female is almost same. It was found no significant difference in the score of emotional intelligence between male and female respondents. Finally, the outcomes of the present study revealed that the adolescent of plain land possess higher and normal emotional intelligence mostly where the adolescent of low land possess normal and low emotional intelligence mostly.
Environmental and Socio-Economic Impacts of Social Forestry in the High Barind Tract
(University of Rajshahi, 2006) Basher, Mohammed Norul; Rahman, M. Shamsur
Forests and forest produce are the integral part of world's environment and they support the environmental balance of the world as well as supply the major portion of the basic needs of human beings. Forests accommodate a great diversity of largely unknown plants, animals, microorganisms and genes generated by intricate ecological process. Forests and trees provide a range of wood and non-wood products, fuel wood, fruits and vegetables, fodder, medicine and so forth. Forests also provide basic elements for life on earth through ecological functions, regulate climate and water resources, stabilize soil, cycle nutrients, treat waste, provide habitat and facilitate recreation. People began to clear forestland's for agriculture, settlement and grazing from Neolithic age. As the population rapidly increased since the l 8th and 19th centuries, a pressure on forestland's also increased. Nowadays the demand for forest goods and resources are the highest ever as the world's population is constantly increasing (Isik, Yaltirik and Akesen, 1997). Population pressure, agriculture, industrialization and development activities are exerting a tremendous pressure on the forests and forestland's. Forest covers one-third land of this planet (about 3.9 billion hectares) excluding Antarctica and Greenland, which is 29.6% of the world's total Landmass (Larsen, 2003). Assessments have shown that for many years world's forest cover is shrinking. According to Food and Agriculture Organization [FAO] (2003), 0.38% of the world's forest were converted to other land uses (i.e., deforested) every year since 1990s. Although large areas reverted to forest, it leaves a net annual loss of 0.22 percent and the world lost about 94 million hectares of forest from 1990 to 2000. Bangladesh is a developing country in South-East Asia with low natural resource base but a dense population. The natural resource base of the country is under serious threat, as most natural resources are being over-exploited and used unsustainable. In 1947, the natural forest cover of the country was 24% of the total land (Gain, 1998a), which has now come down to about 5.8% of the total land of the country (Bangladesh Forest Department [BFD], 2003). Bangladesh has nearly 150-years' history of scientific forest management. In the early 1980s, Bangladesh introduced Social Forestry with some core objectives: ecological restoration, poverty alleviation and people's participation. There remains a question whether these objectives are fulfilled at excepted level or there is room for a more responsive practice to improve outcomes of Social Forestry. A brief examination of past forest resource management practices and shift in forest policy changes in Bangladesh is essential to fully perceive the answer of this question. 1.1 Bangladesh Forestry Sector Bangladesh is situated in the no1th-eastern part of South Asia between 20° 341 and 26° 381 1101th latitude and between 88° 011 and 92°411 east longitude. The country covers an area of 1, 47,570 sq. km and is bounded by India from the west, north and most of east. Myanmar lies on the southeast and the Bay of Bengal on the south (BBS, 2001a). The cow1try is highly populated and total population of the country is 149.7 million (UNFP A, 2005). Bangladesh is located in a unique geographical location between two biologically diverse sub-regions (Indian and Malayan). Due to this, the country has a number of major natural forest ecosystems including the Sunder ban. Forest ecosystems of Bangladesh mainly consist of natural and plantation forests. Tropical wet evergreen, tropical semi evergreen, tropical moist deciduous ai1d tidal forest ecosystems are in the category of natural forests (Ali, 2003). Plantation forests are however developed in deforested forestland's, degraded hill forests, sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn.) forests, marginal lands and newly accreted low-lying coastal areas. Forest area of Bangladesh is gradually decreasing since the independence of Bangladesh. From 1986 to 1996, more than half of the closed forests those were medium to good density forests were turned to either degraded to poor density forests or deforested or encroached (F AO, 2000). Androgenic activities and natural causes are the agents of depletion of forest resources in Bangladesh. Increased consumption of forest products, human encroachment, deforestation, illegal logging, low flows in the dis-tributaries of the Gai1ges due to withdrawal of water at Farakka Barrage point in India during lean season and its · consequences are the human induced activities responsible for forest degradation. Climate change, sea level rise also acts as natural causes for forest degradation in Bangladesh (Ahan1ed, Siddiqi & Choudhuri, 1999). Three distinct periods are evident in the forest management history of Bangladesh. They are: 1) Forest management during colonial period 2) Forest management during Pakistan period and 3) Forest management in Bangladesh and inception of Social Forestry…
Environmental Consequences of Development Interventions in Rural Areas: A Study on Selected Villages
(University of Rajshahi, 2006) Ahsan, Kamrul; Jahan, M. Sarwar
The study was conducted to explore the indigenous knowledge and concept of people of various statuses from two floods free and two flood-affected villages on rural environmental consequences of development interventions under Camilla Sadar and Sonargaon Upazilas of Bangladesh. As well as the impact of development interventions in soil and water qualities were assessed. Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and survey methods were used to assess the current environmental conditions in the study areas. Agriculture soil tests covered soil texture, pH, organic matter content, percent of total nitrogen, P and K. Nine soil samples from different land types of the study villages were tested for finding out residual effects of insecticides in soils under the groups of Organophosphorus, Organocarbamate and organochlorine after the boro season of 2003. Soil samples were collected from different types of agricultural land under the. study. Water quality both for surface and ground water were considered for the study. Total Dissolved Salt, SS, NH/, PH, P and K tests were carried out for surface water. Arsenic, TH and TDS tests were carried out for ground water assessment in the study villages.-------
Environmental Friendly Vector Control Potentials of Plant Secondary Metabolites
(University of Rajshahi, 2015) Parvin, Nayeema; Islam, Md. Nurul
Whole plants (wp) of Evolvulus nummularius, Mentha piperita, Mimosa pudica, Parthenium hysterophorus, Phyllanthus niruri, Polygonum hydropiper, Pouzolzia zeylanica, Synedrella nodiflora, aerial part (ap) and roots (r) of Lantana camara, and aerial part and rhizome (rh) of Zingiber zerumbet were extracted in petroleum ether (PetE), chloroform (CHCl3) and methanol (CH3OH), and were screened against four vectors i.e. eggplant aphid, Aphis gossypii; larvae of the mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus; red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum and brine shrimp, Artemia salina nauplii under laboratory conditions to yield their efficacy through dose-mortality assay and repellent activity against A. gossypii and T. castaneum; lethality against A. salina; larvicidal activity against C. quinquefasciatus larvae with much success. Antimicrobial activity tests were carried out in this connection for further justification of efficacy of the extractives. Isolation, purification and characterization of plant component(s) were also done to establish step-forward positive control measure(s) against four selected vectors from the pest control and pharmaceutical points of view. The mortality of A. gossypii were found in the descending order started with the E. nummularius (wp/PetE) giving LD50 0.034 mg/cm2 and ended with L. camara (ap/PetE) giving LD50 0.080mg/cm2. The larvicidal activity against C. quinquefasciatus larvae the descending order of intensity was started with Ph. niruri (wp/CHCl3) provided with the LC50 3.220ppm and ended with Mi. pudica (wp/PetE) giving LC50 88.187ppm). Methanol extract of Mi. pudica (wp), Pz. zeylanica (wp) and Z. zerumbet (ap) did not show any larvicidal effect. Brine shrimp lethality against A. salina nauplii the efficacy was in the descending order of Po. hydropiper (wp/CHCl3) provided with the LC50 1.590ppm and ended with Ph. niruri (wp/CHCl3) giving LC50 24.331ppm. The mortality of T. castaneum adults through dose-mortality assay were found in the descending order of M. piperita (wp/CH3OH) provided with the LD50 0.238mg/cm2 and ended with L. camara (r/PetE) giving LD50 2.672mg/cm2. While, no activity was traced for whole plant of Mi. pudica; and the methanol extract of Pz. zeylanica (wp); methanol and CHCl3 extracts of L. camara (r) and CHCl3 extract of S. nodiflora (wp) didn’t show any mortality against the adult beetles of T. castaneum. Against the eggplant aphids CH3OH extracts of E. nummularius (wp), L. camara (ap), Mi. pudica (wp) and Pz. zeylanica (wp) offered repellent activity, while the PetE and CHCl3 extracts of the same didn’t show repellency; however PetE, CHCl3 and CH3OH the extracts of Ph. niruri (wp), S. nodiflora (wp) and Z. zerumbet (ap); PetE extracts of M. piperita (wp), P. hysterophorus (wp) and Z. zerumbet (rh); CHCl3 extracts of L. camara (r) and Po. hydropiper (wp) and CH3OH extracts of P. hysterophorus (wp) and Po. hydropiper (wp) offered no repellent activity at all. For the repellency against T. castaneum adults CH3OH extracts of Po. hydropiper (wp) offered the most promising activity, however except L. camara (ap/CHCl3 and CH3OH); L. camara (r/PetE); M. piperita (wp/PetE); Mi. pudica (wp/PetE and CH3OH); P. hysterophorus (wp/CH3OH); Ph. niruri (wp/CHCl3 and CH3OH); Pz. zeylanica (wp/CHCl3) showed repellent activity of different degree; and aerial and rhizome part of Z. zerumbet extracts of all the three solvents showed no repellent activity. Activity tests of the extracts against eight selected pathogenic bacteria at concentrations of 200μg disc-1 and 400μg disc-1 compared with the standard antibiotic, Ampicilin 10μg disc-1 provided a promising outcome. The chloroform extract was found most effective in comparison to PetE and CH3OH extracts. Finding potential activity the PetE extract of E. nummularius (wp) and CH3OH extract of Po. hydropiper (wp) were attempted for chromatographic fractionation to isolate bioactive compound(s) and as a result two compounds named ENP and POM were isolated, and only the ENP was determined as palmitic acid. All the selected arthropod test agents are vectors [Aphid (Ng and Perry, 2004), Mosquito larvae (Michigan Mosquito Control Organization, 2013; Wilcox and Ellis, 2006: Janet, 2010), Red flour beetle (Channaiah et al., 2009); Brine shrimp (Sudhakaran et al., 2006: Hameed et al., 2002)] and the data achieved from the bioassays clearly showed the presence of insecticidal properties and vector control potentials in the test plants. Thus, comprehensive phytochemical analyses of the test plants for their insecticidal, insect repellent, cytotoxic and larvicidal leads, as well as the pharmacological studies of the active ingredients are very much to be solicited for their possible use in the future vector control and pharmaceutical endeavors.
Environmental Impact Assessment of Development Activities in the Sundarbans
(University of Rajshahi, 2012) Mannan, Md. Abdul; Ahmed, Syed Samsuddin; Rahman, Md. Redwanur
The study aims at designing a perfect model for, Environmental Impact Assessment of Development Activities in the Sundarbans. The main objective of the existing management system of Sundarbans Forest and delineates the causes hindering the sustainable development of the forest. The goal of the study has been to propose recommendation for, Environmental Impact Assessment of Development Activities in the Sundarbans. Participation Rural Appraisal (PRA) and survey methods were used to Assess the present condition of the forest. The nature of the study is imperial. Both primary and secondary data have been used to provide for the study. The technique by which the information has been collected from of Sundarbans Forest involves the collection of data mainly from forest related people. To materialize the present and past developmental activities of the Sundarbans, various policy measures as well as institutional measures have been taken. To emphasize the different aspects of the Sundarbans different development plant have been taken and various government agencies and NGO, s are working in this field to change the fate of them through various multidimensional programs have been attempted to discuss in the thesis. All these along with the government's policies have created the context for the development of the Sundarbans and how in this thesis through making necessary analyses and interpretations base on available data. But from the different development projects we see that the input and output have not been varied so much. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Test has been done in six chapters and the monitoring schedule has been made. If we carry on our activities according to the above said monitoring schedule, we will get better results. Respondents provided information on several issues of the forest with the past and present conditions. Many foresters' views including that of 16 Deputy Rangers have been considered in relations to the present management situation of the forest. Several local people have also given their views, which have also been considered. It is clear from the study that Sundarbans is a valuable source of natural resources. But the condition of the forest is becoming worse day by day. Necessary steps and measures are required to be taken to improve the situation. It has been reviewed that creating an environment that could foster a fearless forest can stop the disappearance or extinction processes. The problems of forest degradation and biodiversity reduction can be eradicated naturally. It is necessary to make general people conscious about the law relating to preservation of forests, long term benefits from the proper maintenance of Sundarbans, the sheer disadvantages for not maintaining the forest properly, and to increase the number of employees. The problem of piracy in Sundarbans been shown as one of the main problems hindering development work therein. In relation to development work of the forest most of the total respondents assigned at various important management positions of the Forest Department (57.14 % of the officials) mentioned that improving the development work should include measures to protect of Sundarbans from any sort of piracy or robbery. Another problem that chokes the development work of Sundarbans is the inability of the management to forecast properly the weather or other radical environmental phenomenon causing disaster of Sundarbans. After a long survey and study, some logical suggestions have also been made. To protect Sundarbans, all management work should be taken for development and preservation. To do this first of all we need to protect the management staffs that are engaged in the protection of Sundarbans. Then it is expected that the condition of the forest will be improved. Proper community involvement should be made in order to eradicate piracy and other activities detrimental to the Sundarbans, such as indiscriminate felling of trees, and killing of tigers, deer, and other animals including water resources. Finally, for, Environmental Impact Assessment of Development Activities in the Sundarbans. The sustainable management of the forest the study proposes to carry out the recommendation made in the thesis.
Environmental Impacts of Entrepreneurial Fisheries in Barind Tract
(University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, 2020) Rahman, Md. Mokhlesur; Islam, M. Nazrul
The gradual increase in fish production of Bangladesh is primarily attributed to the increased inland aquaculture especially from the entrepreneurial fisheries. Entrepreneurial fisheries in Barind Tract has also gained traction in the last several years like the few other top fish producing districts of Bangladesh. In four Barind districts (Bogura, Joypurhat, Naogoan, and Rajshahi), pond area and fish production have increased by 41.39% and 134.25% respectively in 2017-18 than that of 2007-08. In this process, thousands of hectares of the seasonal floodplain, paddy fields, and perennial wetlands have been purposely converted into large fishponds for entrepreneurial fisheries in Barind Tract. Since entrepreneurial fisheries are commercial ventures, these are also capital and input-intensive. Not only the intensity (quantity/unit area) of inputs but also the sheer volume (spread) of entrepreneurial fisheries has made it a new but significant farming system in Barind Tract hence deserves a closer look in terms of environmental impacts. Since a large number of paddy fields have been converted into entrepreneurial fishponds, input use was compared between entrepreneurial fisheries and paddy production in this study through a questionnaire-based survey. Additionally, the faunal diversity, especially aquatic invertebrates (aquatic insects, zooplankton and benthos) and water quality parameters, macro, and micro soil nutrients and heavy metal contents of the bottom sediments of entrepreneurial fishponds were compared with those of natural wetlands. Several experiments were conducted to know the impacts of various pesticides, hormones, and fish toxicants used in entrepreneurial fisheries on aquatic invertebrates and human health. To know the social impact of entrepreneurial fisheries, focus group the discussion was conducted. The current study revealed that the entrepreneurial fishponds were purposely built hence large (average size of more than an acre water area) in size with 5 to 10 feet water depth depending on the season and rearing of large-sized Indian major carps and Chinese carps. Of all the entrepreneurial fishponds, 61.5% of the ponds were located in areas that used to be seasonal floodplain, whereas 23.1% of the ponds were constructed by transforming paddy fields and 15.4% ponds were constructed through the transformation of perennial wetland.
Environmental Perspectives and Distance Decay Function: A Case Study of Rural Periodic Markets in Nawabganj Sadar Upazila, Bangladesh
(University of Rajshahi, 2014) Kamruzzaman, Md.; Sheikh, Md. Abu Hanif
Generally Rural Periodic Market (RPM) means a small scale market where people solemnize their every day purchasing and selling for mainly consumption purposes and continuing every day’s economic activities. The evolution and development of rural periodic markets are usually conditioned by population pressure, transport intensity, consumer’s income, inter-center distance and range of goods. This study concerns with the environmental perspectives and Distance Decay function of the rural periodic markets of Nawabganj upazila in Chapai Nawabganj district. The main theme of this study is that the present way of life of the people of the study area is closely interlinked with the rural periodic markets. Moreover, many people talk about the various aspects of rural periodic market including its environmental consequences. But none of the environmentalist or think-tank did conduct any comprehensive and rigorous study in this field. Being a much talked about issue, the researcher has conducted this study with a view to identifying and understanding the spatial nature of rural periodic markets and its impact on physical and human environment. Some selected methodology like social survey, observation and case study along with some techniques of data collection and analysis where some environmental aspects have been given special priority in the present study. The study area has a total 40 RPMs, and out of these 6 RPMs are growth center, 17 RPMs revenue collection haats and 17 non-government RPMs. The findings for the questionnaire survey in the study area shows the location of the RPMs and its historical background, land forms as well as physical condition of the area, climate, population density, agricultural, literacy and transport have been presented. Then the site and situation of RPM in each union has been discussed where only one RPM and the subject have been represent as the representative of the whole situation of the particular study area. The initiation and development of RPMs in the study area involved four factors such as personal influence (22.5%), population pressure (35%), communication facilities (17.5%) and surplus production (25%). The study area’s Rn value is 1.06 which is close to one and therefore, it indicates that the haats of this upazila are randomly distributed. The RPMs have been classified into four classes i.e. 08 is in 1st order haat, 09 is in 2nd order haat, 09 is in 3rd order haat and 14 RPMs are in 4th order. Temporal distribution of RPM means distribution relates with time context. Daily RPMs is 01, weekly 09 and Bi-weekly 30. Spatio-temporal synchronization of RPM such as same day markets 5.55 km., adjacent day markets 3.81 km. one day separated markets 3.47 km. and two days separated markets are 3.21 km. In Nawabganj sadar upazila out of nine RPM rings two are incomplete rings and seven are complete RPM rings. The main focus of the study is to determined trade as well as the spatial interactions among the markets and the products being assembled. The convergence of the product has been examined in the light of distance and perishability. There are two parameters which have analyzed the background of physical factors and social milieu. Such association has been documented in a matrix to find out the development of the positive and negative relationship. The total calculative positive impact points are one thousand five hundred thirty seven (+1537) and the total negative impact points are minus nine hundred and ninety (-990). So it may get 547 positive points often deleting the negative impact points from the total positive impact point and it is said that the study area have the positive impact of Rural Periodic Markets. However in order to get more expected positive value points regarding environmental perspective all RPMs should be established in well planned and environment friendly manner.