Historical shifting in grain mineral density of landmark rice and wheat cultivars released over the past 50 years in India.

The 'Green Revolution (GR)' has been successful in meeting food sufficiency in India, but compromising its nutritional security. In a first, we report altered grain nutrients profile of modern-bred rice and wheat cultivars diminishing their mineral dietary significance to the Indian population. To substantiate, we evaluated grain nutrients profile of historical landmark high-yielding cultivars of rice and wheat released in succeeding decades since the GR and its impacts on mineral diet quality and human health, with a prediction for decades ahead.

Optimizing zinc fertilization technology in wheat for its sustainable production and improved human nutrition.

Zinc (Zn) deficiency in soil is a serious constraint affecting the yield and nutritional quality of wheat and, in turn, human health. Zn fertilization for enhancing its density in grains is a prominent technological solution for the problem. Accordingly, the present study (pot experiment) was undertaken to (i) assess the impacts of different Zn fertilization technologies on yield, concentrations of Zn, phytic acid (PA), iron (Fe) and also the bioavailability of Zn in grains and (ii) determine the optimised Zn fertilization technology that balances all the above attributes.

The mechanistic pathways of arsenic transport in rice cultivars: Soil to mouth.

Rice cultivars are major conduit of arsenic (As) poisoning to human. We quantified transferability of fifteen rice cultivars representing three groups i.e.

Impact of organic and mineral inputs onto soil biological and metabolic activities under a long-term rice-wheat cropping system in sub-tropical Indian Inceptisols.

Long-term use of organic and mineral inputs has an overriding impact on soil biological and metabolic activities and crop management. Farm yard manure (FYM), paddy straw (PS) and green manure (GM, Sesbania sesban L.) were used for 24- years old rice (Oyza sativa L.

Assessment of heavy metals contamination in different crops grown in long-term sewage-irrigated areas of Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

The effects of sewage water on the accumulation of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, and Ni) in soils and commonly grown plants were evaluated by monitoring the fields along the water channel running some 30 km eastward of Kolkata, West Bengal, India. The results revealed that the mean Cu, Cd, and Zn contents in sewage water were higher than the recommended level whereas mean concentration of Cd in the irrigated soil is several folds higher than the safe limit. The highest single element pollution index (SEPI) value was found for Cd which ranged from 2.

Rehabilitating acid soils for increasing crop productivity through low-cost liming material.

Productivity of red and lateritic soils is low because of their acidity and deficiencies in few essential nutrients viz., nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, zinc, boron, molybdenum etc. We compared the effectiveness of basic slag, a low-cost liming material, with that of calcite as an ameliorant for these soils using mustard followed by rice as test crops.

Nitrate enrichment in groundwater from long-term intensive agriculture: its mechanistic pathways and prediction through modeling.

Nitrate (NO(3-)N) contamination of drinking groundwater is a serious worldwide problem. We studied the mechanistic pathways of the nitrate enrichment in a drinking groundwater system of an intensively cultivated district in India and predicted the enrichment through modeling. Analysis of groundwater samples (3472) showed that the nitrate content during the postmonsoon season (0.

Nitrate and fluoride contamination in groundwater of an intensively managed agroecosystem: a functional relationship.

A study was conducted to assess the potential of nitrate-nitrogen (NO(3)-N) and fluoride (F) contamination in drinking groundwater as a function of lithology, soil characteristics and agricultural activities in an intensively cultivated district in India. Two hundred and fifty two groundwater samples were collected at different depths from various types of wells and analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), NO(3)-N load and F content. Database on lithology, soil properties, predominant cropping systems, fertilizer and pesticide uses were also recorded for the district.

Can homeopathy bring additional benefits to thalassemic patients on hydroxyurea therapy? Encouraging results of a preliminary study.

Several homeopathic remedies, namely, Pulsatilla Nigricans (30th potency), Ceanothus Americanus (both mother tincture and 6th potency) and Ferrum Metallicum (30th potency) selected as per similia principles were administered to 38 thalassemic patients receiving Hydroxyurea (HU) therapy for a varying period of time. Levels of serum ferritin (SF), fetal hemoglobin (HbF), hemoglobin (Hb), platelet count (PC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), white blood cell (WBC) count, bilirubin content, alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST) and serum total protein content of patients were determined before and 3 months after administration of the homeopathic remedies in combination with HU to evaluate additional benefits, if any, derived by the homeopathic remedies, by comparing the data with those of 38 subjects receiving only HU therapy. Preliminary results indicated that there was a significant decrease in the SF and increase in HbF levels in the combined, treated subjects.

Assessment of potential hazards of fluoride contamination in drinking groundwater of an intensively cultivated district in West Bengal, India.

We assessed the potential of fluoride (F) contamination in drinking groundwater of an intensively cultivated district in India as a function of its lithology and agricultural activities. Three hundred and eight groundwater samples were collected at different depths from various types of wells and analyzed for pH, EC, NO(3)-N load and F content. A typical litholog was constructed and database on fertilizer and pesticide uses were also recorded for the district.

Assessment of the potential hazards of nitrate contamination in surface and groundwater in a heavily fertilized and intensively cultivated district of India.

We made an inventory of nitrate (NO3-N) enrichment in surface and groundwater systems in the Hooghly district of India owing to intensive farming with high fertilizer doses as a function of quantity of fertilizers use, soil characteristics, types of crop grown, depth of groundwater sampling and also N-load in soil profiles. Water samples were collected from different sources at 412 odd sites spread over in 17 blocks of the district along with representative soil profiles. On average, the study area had high clay and NO3-N in soil profiles with an increasing and decreasing trends along depth, respectively.

Can homeopathic arsenic remedy combat arsenic poisoning in humans exposed to groundwater arsenic contamination?: a preliminary report on first human trial.

Groundwater arsenic (As) has affected millions of people globally distributed over 20 countries. In parts of West Bengal (India) and Bangladesh alone, over 100 million people are at risk, but supply of As-free water is grossly inadequate. Attempts to remove As by using orthodox medicines have mostly been unsuccessful.