The use of forage legume species as cover crops in the management of immature rubber plantation soils is not attractive to smallholder rubber farmers (owners of about 75% of the global acreage under rubber production). We sampled immature rubber plantation soils under the following respective creeping vegetable cover crops: Vegetable cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L., Walp. Ssp. Sessquipedallis.), Egusi melon (Cucumeropsis manni Naaudi) and Broadleaf pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) and a forage legume species (Centrosema pubescens) for four consecutive years at the Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria, Benin. The samples were analyzed for mineral N (NO3- and NH4+) content, and microbial group populations at the onset and end of rains, as well as selected physical and chemical properties. Generally, the result showed that the creeping vegetable cover crop species had a comparative positive effect on the soil properties assessed relative to the forage legume species. The two sampled period mean values of NO3- and NH4+ (10.62 and 8.18 mgkg-1, respectively) obtained from the plantation that had vegetable cowpea were significantly (P≤ 0.05) higher than those of the Egusi melon and Broadleaf pumpkin, but slightly (not significant) lower than that of the Centrosema pubescens. The soil microbial groups (Fungi, Bacteria and Actinomycetes) populations were significantly affected by the cover crop species. At the onset and end of rains, plantations that had vegetable cowpea and Centrosema pubescense cover crops had the maximum number of bacteria (29.58 and 29.50 C.fug-1drywt.soil ×10-6, in that order), while the maximum number of fungi was found in the broadleaf pumpkin (23.66 C.fug-1drywt.soil ×10-6) and Egusi melon (22.92 C.fug-1drywt.soil ×10-6) cover crop plantations. The broadleaf pumpkin and Egusi melon had significant positive effect on the soil surface layer (0-15cm) pH, Org. C, base cations, bulk density and percentage water filled pore space. These findings suggest that the creeping vegetable cover crops could be considered as alternative to the forage legumes in the management of immature rubber plantation soils.

Environmental assessment involved the overall monitoring of the atmosphere and biosphere where flora and fauna exist and interact as ecosystem. This environment is required to be assessed and monitored time to time to check the anomalies. The good tools for the measurement and evaluation in our habitable world is Geographic Information System and Remote Sensing. This technology can be applicable in solving environmental issues and create medium for decision making and planning. The consequences of the application of GIS and RS are time saving, accuracy, reduce cost, good planning, suitability and accessibility.

For soil erosion modeling, determining sediment transport capacity (Tc) is essential because it plays a key role in sediment detachment, transport, and deposition research. This paper provides insights into the seasonal spatial distribution of sediment transport capacity, excess runoff depth in response to the distribution of precipitation, and land use at a watershed scale, using SCN Curve Number (CN) method, Remote Sensing (RS), and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Spatial distribution in runoff production on hillslopes and sediment transport are explained. We integrated the effect of slope gradient in the curve number to model the landscape effect on sediment transport. The findings show that seasonal variation in sediment transport capacity is influenced by climate change. During June and October, the transport capacity is higher and coincides with channel areas in the Boubo watershed. Potential applications of this map may help the decision-maker to deal with problems associated with watershed development and management.

Land Use / Land Cover (LULC) changes has been progressive across the globe, causing the alteration and shifting of various land use/land cover features. These changes are caused by natural factors such as extreme environmental conditions, earthquakes, volcanic eruption, flooding and also human factors including agricultural expansion, urban and industrial development of infrastructure. The study combined spatial time series satellite data and field observations to observe the changes which have occurred in the land cover mapping between 1999 and 2007. Land cover features were categorized into Vegetation, Crop/farmland, Settlement, Bare land and Water body. Satellite imagery for the intervening period was used to assess the changes in LULC. LULC classes of Settlements and Bare land recorded an increase of 3.21%, and 33.1%, whereas Vegetation, Crop/farmland and Water decreased by 1.8%, 33% and 2.1% respectively. It was observed that the mean conversional change between 1999 and 2007 was 2148.55 hectares. A total land size of 9297.79 hectares did not undergo any change; conversion into Water body was 417.62 hectares, 7688.56 hectares was changed into Crop/farmland, 1137.76 hectares into Settlement, 337.17 hectares into Bare land, and 1161.65 hectares into Vegetation. It was also observed that the sharp increase in Settlement is as a result of rapid population growth and expansion of infrastructure.

An agricultural field located in the vicinity of the Hattar industrial Estate irrigates with industrial wastewater containing potentially toxic metals and excessive nutrients. In this study, onion field soil, wheat field soil, and edible parts of the wheat and onion were sampled from the field irrigated with long-term industrial wastewater to evaluate the potentially toxic metals (Cr, Cd, Ni, Fe, Zn, Hg, Cu) and excessive nutrients (K, Ca, Mg). Lake sediments were also sampled to examine the effects on polluted soil and edible plants. The results indicate that concentration level of potentially toxic metals are high in the soil and nutrients in the sediment. The plant component study shows that potentially toxic metals and nutrients are maximum in onion (root vegetable) than in wheat. During analysis of sediment’s effects on contaminated soil and spinach, it was concluded that potentially toxic metals were very high in spinach of contaminated soil than in sediments amended soil, while nutrients were high in sediments amended soil. A leafy part of spinach was more vulnerable to the accumulation of potentially toxic metals than other parts. The column leaching experiment shows that the concentration of metals and availability of nutrients in sediments amended soil is higher than in contaminated soil due to less uptake of nutrients and potentially toxic metals by spinach. It is concluded that sediments are suitable in polluted soil for reducing potentially toxic metals and excessive nutrient uptake by edible plants.

Shipbreaking industry has turned out to be dominant sector in Bangladesh without considering the environmental issues. However, to date, extremely limited studies have been performed to monitor the air and noise level around shipbreaking sites of Bangladesh. This study is conducted to assess the air and noise level with associated health risk vicinity to selected shipbreaking areas of the country. Herein, data on various air pollutants, noise level, and meteorological factors were collected from six prominent shipbreaking yards in Chattogram. Findings of the research work revealed that some air quality parameters and noise level adjacent to shipbreaking areas are exceeded the permissible level set by the WHO. The values of Air Quality Index (AQI) is found in the unhealthy category for human health perspective. The average noise level was also recorded beyond the permissible limit in every sampling sites, following descending order: S3 > S4 > S5 > S6 > S1 > S2. From the statistical analysis, the authors explored that there are significant correlation with poor to strong (0.0.026 to 0.97) among the climatic parameters and air pollutants. Both particulate matters and AQI demonstrate a moderate correlation with the meteorological parameters (humidity and wind speed), and gaseous air pollutants (CO2 and TVOC) also have considerable correlations. The moderate correlation between AQI and noise level is also observed in this study. The authors recommended for effective control actions to alleviate the detrimental environmental pollution arises due to the consequences of shipbreaking activities for ensuring health safety of workers.

Polymesoda spp., which represent bivalves in the mangrove ecosystem, inhabit the mangrove forests of the Indo-Pacific region. They are edible bivalves consumed by inhabitants located around the mangrove forests in the region. The bivalves also have a cultural significance because their shells are used for religious ceremonies on the Yaeyama Islands in Japan. However, detailed studies of these bivalves is scarce and their biology is not well understood. We conducted this study in the mangrove forest along Urauchi River of Iriomote Island, Japan. The spatial distribution patterns of the bivalves and the forest floor environment were surveyed. We used 75 large (10m2 quadrat) plots to survey plant species and above-ground root density, and small (1m2 quadrat) plots to count the number of bivalves and measure median particle diameter, sediment temperature and Oxygen Reduction Potential (ORP) in each large plot. In addition, the relationships between these forest floor environmental factors and the spatial distribution patterns of the bivalves were analyzed. Polymesoda spp. was present in 34 plots. Bruguiera gymnorhiza was dominant in 79.4% of plots. A correlation between the distribution and median particle diameter and ORP and sediment temperature was not found. In 94% of the plots, the above-ground root density was over 50% of the large plot. The relationships between the spatial distribution patterns of the bivalves and plant species and the above-ground root density were revealed.

Marigold, a member of the Asteraceae family, is a popular ornamental plant grown throughout the world, including Nepal. The color and size of the flowers on marigold plants vary. Marigold plants can reach a height of 5 feet, but pinching procedures can lower this, allowing the intercultural operation to continue. Tagetes erecta L. is one of the most well-known marigold varieties in Nepal. Pinching is a technique for breaking apical dominance and redirecting energy to increase blossom production. Different experiments including treatments like no pinch, single pinch, and double pinches were reviewed to evaluate the effect of pinching on the growth and yield of marigolds. The effect of pinching on marigold growth and yield was investigated by comparing parameters such as plant height, number of branches per plant, number of flowers per plant, and flower size of pinched and unpinched (healthy) plants. The height of the unpinched plant was found to be 25% higher than that of the pinched. When plants are pinched, their apical dominance is broken, which encourages the plant to generate lateral branches and become bushy Because the majority of the nutrition is dislocated from the apical region of the plant when it is pinched; no pinched plants have fewer branches than pinched plants. Pinching stimulates cell division, cell size, leaf area, and photosynthetic compound production, which affects branch formation and, as a result, flower production. According to the results from various trials, double pinching resulted in the highest increase in plant height, number of branches, number of flowers per plant, and bloom size when compared to no pinching.

The study targeted medicinal and aromatic plants in the Al-Wardia region located in the Green Mountain in northeastern Libya, where the plants in them were counted and the most commonly used medicinal and aromatic plants in folk medicine were evaluated, and 70 types of medicinal plants were collected in the study area. Through a survey of these plants and their distribution to the local population and perfumers within the study area and the application of statistical analysis, it was found that the most used medicinal and aromatic plants are Thymus capitatus L, Salvia fruticosa L, Retama raetum (Forsk.) Webb, Helichrysum stoechas (L.) Monch., Peganum hamala L, Chamomilla aurea (Loefl.) Gax ex Cossn & kralik . Ziziphus lotus (L.) lam Salvia fruticosa L Ceratonia siliqua L. Helichrysum stoechas (L.) Monch The study Where the study showed that the estimated quantities sold of them ranged from the apple and the Shahi apple per year, which is equivalent to its value 3000,2400 dl, in addition to knowing its anatomical structure using the Libyan flora.

Construction sites are often blamed for dengue outbreaks in surrounding localities. The environment is suitable for immature mosquitoes to develop without predators and the convenience of female mosquitoes to feed on the exposed construction workers. The purposes of this study were to identify the species of mosquitoes present at construction sites and the types of their preferred breeding habitats, and also to determine the vertical distribution of the mosquitoes. Nineteen construction sites in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur were cross-sectionally surveyed for the presence of immature mosquitoes in 2018. All water-holding containers were inspected for the presence of immature mosquitoes. Types of water-holding containers were recorded and counted. The number of immature mosquitoes was counted from each positive container and then transferred to the laboratory for species identification. A total of 1,643 immature mosquitoes were collected, comprising 1,287 larvae and 356 pupae. Aedes aegypti immature was the most abundant mosquito species (76%), followed by Culex quinquefasciatus (19%), and the Aedes albopictus (5%). The most productive breeding sites were flooded floors, drains, plastic containers, elevator shafts, water drums, and pails. We discovered that the immature mosquitoes were most abundant from the ground floor to the second floor, with Ae. aegypti immature could disperse up to the thirteenth floor. This study has provided useful information to the health department regarding the preferred breeding habitats of vector mosquitoes at construction sites. Consequently, it contributes to effective and efficient vector prevention and control measures, thus saving time and manpower.