Evaluation of the portable furrow infiltrometer
Abstract Twenty infiltrometer tests were conducted to compare infiltration rates estimated by the recirculating infiltrometer (RIF) and the newly developed portable infiltrometer (PIF). Two types of furrows commonly used in the western United States; small and steep, and large and less steep; were considered in high and low infiltration soils. Comparison of the PIF and RIF infiltration rate measurements indicated that PIF was most accurate in estimating steady infiltration rates. Use of the PIF for predicting infiltration rate functions was not recommended because of the need for collecting accurate measurements early during the infiltration process. Considering ease of installation, accuracy in measuring steady infiltration rates, and ability to collect data during irrigation, the PIF is a promising device for use in surface irrigation management.
Using the Kostiakov – Lewis Infiltration function to evaluate a furrow irrigated field at Mhlume, a region in the north-eastern Lowveld of Eswatini (Southern Africa)
— The Eswatini sugar industry grows fully irrigated sugarcane on 57 420 hectares of land producing 6 197 753 tonnes of cane and 871 301 tonnes of sucrose annually (ESA-Integrated Report, 2019). Poor and inefficient furrow irrigation is still practiced by many growers in particular the poor small holder farmers in the industry. The two treatments were; in-row irrigated furrows and interrow irrigated furrows. A total of ten advance-recession measures were conducted, five were conducted on each treatment. The furrows were of length of 240 m and gradient along the furrows was 1:250. Two Washington State flumes were used to measure flow. One was used to measure inlow at the beginning of the furrow, and another one was used to measure runoff (outflow) at the end of the fourrow. The time water was allowed into the furrow was recorded. Other measurements included the time water reached the furrow end, the time to the middle of the furrow, the wetted perimeter at each point, the depth of flow and the top width of the water level. These measurements were required for the calculation of the Kostiakov exponent “a” and the coefficient “k”. The results showed that the distribution uniformity (84%), application efficiency (88%) and deep percolation ratio (11%) were better in interrow irrigation than in in-row irrigation. However, runoff was higher with interrow irrigation at 6% compared to 2% with in-row irrigation.
Effect of single oral dose of DDT on the lipid metabolism of rhesus monkey
Abstract The effect of a single oral dose of DDT (150 mg/kg body wt) on the lipid metabolism of rhesus monkey has been investigated 48 hr after the administration of the drug. There was hypertriglyceridemia and increased triglyceride levels in adipose tissues of experimental animals. The increased triglyceride levels in plasma seemed to be due to their increased mobilization from the liver and decreased removal rate from plasma. However, postheparin plasma lipolytic activity (PHLA) of both protamine-sensitive and -resistant types increased in the plasma. Further, there was increased lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity in DDT-treated animals which contributed to the increased esterified cholesterol in plasma. There was increased conversion of [14C] glucose into hepatic triglyceride but the lipid content did not change significantly in the tissue possibly due to the increased lipolytic activity and secretion into plasma.