Mitali Jain

Flyash as a soil conditioner and fertilizer

Abstract Field experiments were conducted in villages around the National Capital Power Project, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh and IARI Farm, New Delhi to evaluate the effects of flyash incorporation on soil properties and the growth and yield of wheat ( Triticum aestivum L. ), mustard ( Brassica juncea L. ), rice ( Oryza sativa L. ) and maize (Zea mays L.). Flyash application levels (up to 50 t/ha) were decided on the basis of an ash/dust fall range of 5–12 t/ha/y in villages adjoining the thermal power station. The grain yield of maize increased in flyash-treated plots with the addition of ash up to a maximum addition of 10 t/ha. Dusting crop canopies with ash decreased the yield in proportion to the amount applied. The yield of wheat increased up to an addition of ash of 20 t/ha, and declined thereafter, but was still higher than the yield when no flyash was added. Paddy yield when 10 t/ha of ash was added was similar to that with no flyash, whereas mustard showed improvements in seed yield with flyash addition at 10 t/ha level. Flyash-treated plots had a marginally higher uptake of Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn and Cd. Flyash addition to soil resulted in lower bulk density, although the differences compared with non-treated plots were not significant. The addition of flyash also reduced the hydraulic conductivity and improved moisture retention at field capacity and wilting point, but no changes in available water were observed. These changes in soil properties might have been due to modifications in macro- and micro-pore size distribution and which may also have contributed to the increased crop yields in light- and medium-textured soils. However, the effects of ash addition on soil health and crop productivity need to be established with long-term studies.

Social and behavioral determinants for Early Childhood Caries among preschool children in India

Background and aims. Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is a public health problem with biological, social and behavioural determinants and the notion that the principal etiology is inappropriate feeding modalities is no longer tenable. Hence this study was undertaken to assess the relationship between ECC and socio-demographic factors, dietary habits, oral hygiene habits and parental characteristics. Materials and methods. The study involved a dental examination of 1400 children aged 0-71 months, recording caries using Gruebbel’s deft index and a structured questionnaire to interview parents or caretakers. The tabulated data was statistically analyzed using t-test and ANOVA at 5% level of significance. Results. The variables significantly associated with ECC were age (P<0.001), geographical location (P<0.05), duration of breast/bottle feeding (P<0.001), use of sweetened pacifiers (P<0.001), frequency of snacking (P<0.05), frequency of tooth brushing (P<0.001), the person responsible for child’s oral health care (P<0.05) and education level of parents (P<0.05). However, other variables like child’s gender, number of siblings, types of snack the child preferred and age at which tooth brushing was instituted did not have statistically significant relationship with ECC (P>0.05). Conclusion. ECC is preventable and manageable with proper information and skills. It is important for healthcare professionals, family physicians and parents to be cognizant of the involved risk factors as their preventive efforts represent the first line of defense.