The development of micro-catchments in Sri Lanka

This paper gives an informatory account of the development of micro-catchments in Sri Lanka for irrigation. Information for the paper comes from the experience of detailed investigation and preparation of technical proposals for the improvement of 170 existing micro-scale reservoir schemes in the Puttalam and Kurunegala districts, over a period of three years (January, 1982 through December, 1984), under a World Bank-financed project called “Integrated Rural Development (IRD) Project”. Investigations were carried out by a private body called Planning Consultancy, a professional staff comprising a team of eight engineers from the Resources Development Consultants Ltd., Sir Lanka, under a contract with the Ministry of Plan Implementation and under the supervision of the Irrigation Department of Sri Lanka and a World Bank-recommended body called Supervisory Consultancy. The writer is a member of the Planning Consultancy team who personally investigated and designed 30 of these schemes.     

Enthalpies in (Na,Ca)- and (K,Ca)-feldspar binaries: a high-temperature solution calorimetric study

A series of high structural state plagioclases (Ab-An) was crystallized from glasses. By exchanging Na for K in KCl melts, metastable K-plagioclases (Or-An) were prepared which possess the same structural state as the starting plagioclases. Both series were investigated at 980 K by lead borate solution calorimetry. Continuing the ideas of Carpenter and McConnell (1984) and Carpenter (1992a), the results can be interpreted as follows. In the high plagioclase series, the enthalpies of solution, jH_sol, reflect the schemes of Al,Si ordering: (1) analbite-like (C2/m) ordering in the An-poor region 0hX_AnА.2, (2) high albite-like (C1¥) ordering in intermediate plagioclases, and (3) anorthite-like (I1¥) ordering in the An-rich region 0.7AnБ. In regions 1 and 2, jH_sol decreases as a function of X_An, but increases in region 3 as a consequence of the C1¥MI1¥ ordering reaction. Therefore, it is not a mixing effect but a compositionally restricted ordering effect which causes the excess enthalpies, jH^ex, to be positive in the plagioclase binary as a whole. Neglecting the existence of phase transitions at X_An=0.2 and X_An=0.7, jH^ex can be approximated by a two-parameter Margules model yielding W^H_AnAb=14Dž kJ/mol and W^H_AbAn=40Dž kJ/mol. jH_sol values of I1¥ plagioclases (X_An>0.7) can be "corrected" for the C1¥MI1¥ ordering effect (Carpenter 1992a). When combining the corrected values with the jH_sol data which were actually measured on the C1¥ plagioclases (X_An<0.7), negative excess enthalpies are generated in the plagioclase binary. This may be expected when C1¥ ordering occurs relative to topochemically monoclinic reference states of analbite and hypothetical anorthite devoid of I1¥ order. The solution experiments on the K-plagioclases resulted in similar characteristics as those found for the plagioclases. However, in addition to the ordering effects observed in the plagioclase binary, volume mismatch effects contribute to jH^ex in the K-plagioclase series. jH^ex can be represented by a Margules model with W^H_AnOr=60ᆞ kJ/mol and W^H_OrAn=91ᆢ kJ/mol when the phase transitions at X_An=0.2 and X_An=0.7 are again neglected. The contribution of the volume mismatch effect to jH^ex is considerable, as appears from the large difference between the K-plagioclase and the plagioclase Margules parameters. Their difference corresponds to a practically symmetrical dependence of jH^ex_volmism on composition, with W^H_volmism=48ᆡ kJ/mol.     

Structural properties of Urfa stone doped with erbium oxide

In this study, we investigated the structural properties of Urfa stone (US) doped with erbium oxide (Er₂O₃). Solid US was powdered by using an agate mortar, and its elemental composition was determined using inductive coupling plasma (ICP) methods. Varying amounts of Er₂O₃ (5, 10, 20, 30, and 40%) were added as a dopant to the US powder using mechanical alloying methods. The resultant samples were sintered at 1000 °C for 1 h. The structural properties of the Er₂O₃-doped US samples were subsequently investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), and photoluminescence methods. Results from the XRD analysis of the Er₂O₃-doped US powder indicated two crystalline phases: (1) calcium oxide (CaO) or lime and (2) Er₂O₃. After the samples were sintered at 1000 °C, CaO, Er₂O₃, calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), and mixed crystalline phases were observed. Results from the FTIR analysis of the Er₂O₃-doped US samples indicated absorption bands at 711.91, 872.08, and 1396.87 cm^?1 in the spectra. Finally, photoluminescence analysis results indicated a shift in the emission and excitation bands to longer and shorter wavelengths, respectively, in the solid state (non-aqueous media) US-Er complex.     

Geospatial assessment of soil erosion intensity and sediment yield: a case study of Potohar Region,Pakistan

Estimation of spatial extent of soil erosion, one of the most serious forms of land degradation, is critical because soil erosion has serious implications on soil fertility, water ecosystem, crop productivity and landscape beauty. The primary objective of the current study was to assess and map the soil erosion intensity and sedimentation yield of Potohar region of Pakistan. Potohar is the rainfed region with truncated and complex topography lying at the top of the Indus Basin, the world’s largest irrigation networks of canals and barrages. Spatially explicit Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) Model integrated with Remote Sensing-GIS techniques was used for detecting/mapping of erosion prone areas and quantification of soil losses. The results show that the Potohar region is highly susceptible to soil erosion with an average annual soil loss of 19 tons ha^?1 year^?1 of which the maximum erosion (70–208 tons ha^?1 year^?1) was near the river channels and hilly areas. The sediment yield due to the erosion is as high as 148 tons ha^?1 year^?1 with an average of 4.3 tons ha^?1 year^?1. It was found that 2.06% of the total area falls under severe soil erosion, 13.34% under high erosion, 15.35% under moderate soil erosion while 69.25% of the area lies in the low (tolerable) soil erosion. Chakwal and Jhelum districts of the region are seriously affected by erosion owing to their topography and soil properties. The information generated in this study is a step forward towards proper planning and implementation of strategies to control the erosion and for protection of natural resources. It is, hence, necessary that suitable water harvesting structures be made to control water to prevent soil erosion and provision of water in the lean season in this region. Tree plantation and other erosion control practices such as strip cropping can also minimize soil erosion in this region.     

Phosphorus removal in low alkalinity secondary effluent using alum

The alkalinity plays an important role in phosphorus removal using coagulant. The dosage of coagulant in the low alkalinity wastewater is limited due to rapid pH changes. In the present study, a series of jar test was conducted using low alkalinity wastewater (50 mg/L) to evaluate the optimum pH, dosage and performance parameters (slow mixing and settling time) for the common coagulant alum. From the experiment, it was found that the dosage of coagulant and removal of phosphorus depend upon the pH of the wastewater after adding coagulant. The final optimum pH for efficient P removal was found to be within the range of 5.7–5.9. This range acts as an indicator and it is the maximum tolerable pH range for phosphorus removal for low alkalinity wastewater. The optimum time for slow mix and settling was found to be 20 min. The optimum mole ratio of alum to remove one mole of phosphorous was found to be 2.3. The alum coagulation at pH 7 produced effluent with the total residual phosphorus and reactive phosphorus content of 0.3 and 0.9 mg/L, respectively.     

Sea Level Variations and Geomorphological Changes in the Coastal Belt of Pakistan

The UNEP in its regional seas program in 1989 has included Pakistan in a group of countries which are vulnerable to the impact of rising sea level. If the present trend of sea level rise (SLR) at Karachi continues, in the next 50 years the sea level rise along the Pakistan Coast will be 50 mm (5 cm). Since the rising rates of sea level at Karachi are within the global range of 1-2 mm/year, the trends may be treated as eustatic SLR. Historical air temperature and sea surface temperature (SST) data of Karachi also show an increasing pattern and an increasing trend of about 0.67°C has been registered in the air temperature over the last 35 years, whereas the mean SST in the coastal waters of Karachi has also registered an increasing trend of about 0.3°C in a decade. Sindh coastal zone is more vulnerable to sea level rise than Baluchistan coast, as uplifting of the coast by about 1-2 mm/year due to subduction of Indian Ocean plate is a characteristic of Baluchistan coast. Within the Indus deltaic creek system, the area nearby Karachi is more vulnerable to coastal erosion and accretion than the other deltaic region, mainly due to human activities together with natural phenomena such as wave action, strong tidal currents, and rise in sea level. Therefore, The present article deals mainly with the study of dynamical processes such as erosion and accretion associated with sea level variations along the Karachi coast and surrounding Indus deltaic coastline. The probable beach erosion in a decade along the sandy beaches of Karachi has been estimated. The estimates show that 1.1 mm/year rise in sea level causes a horizontal beach loss of 110 mm per year. Therefore, coast eroded with rise in sea level at Karachi and surrounding sandy beaches would be 1.1 m during a period of next 10 years. The northwestern part of Indus delta, especially the Gizri and Phitti creeks and surrounding islands, are most unstable. Historical satellite images are used to analyze the complex pattern of sediment movements, the change in shape of coastline, and associated erosion and accretion patterns in Bundal and Buddo Islands. The significant changes in land erosion and accretion areas at Bundal and Buddo Islands are evident and appear prominently in the images. A very high rate of accretion of sediments in the northwestern part of Buddo Island has been noticed. In the southwest monsoon season the wave breaking direction in both these islands is such that the movement of littoral drift is towards west. Erosion is also taking place in the northeastern and southern part of Bundal Island. The erosion in the south is probably due to strong wave activities and in the northeast is due to strong tidal currents and seawater intrusion. Accretion takes place at the northwest and western parts of Bundal Island. By using the slope of Indus delta, sea encroachment and the land area inundation with rising sea level of 1 m and 2 m have also been estimated.     

Mapping of suspended sediments using site specific seasonal algorithms

This article reports a preliminary work in which two site specific seasonal algorithms have been proposed for estimating the suspended sediments concentration (SSC) from the digital numbers recorded on Indian Remote sensing Satellite, IRS-P4 Ocean Colour Monitor (OCM) sensor. For estimation of SSC, the proposed algorithms utilize dark pixel deduction atmospheric correction technique. The computations are performed with respect to north east monsoon phase situations of Palk Strait coastal stretch. The algorithms performance was satisfactory during the north east monsoon period. Although the results obtained cannot be generalized, we suggest that the authority of proposed algorithms can be extended to other seasons with the addition of more temporal experimental validation data sets and with numeric constants adjusted to present existing conditions. (As this area was severely affected by Tsunami, it may have dissimilar conditions at present).     

Assessment of the mycoflora of commercial poultry feeds sold in the humid tropical environment of Imo State, Nigeria

This study was carried out to identify the common moulds growing in selected commercial poultry feed sold in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. Forty-eight bulk samples derived froml92 bags of feeds were collected from broiler starter (BS), broiler finishers (BF), grower mash (GM) and layer mash (LM) across 4 different brands of ommercial poultry feeds, which included Livestock (LF), Top (TF) Guinea (GF) and Vital (VF) feeds. The feed samples were collected during the rainy season months of June, July and August. The common moulds isolated from these feeds were Aspergillus sp., Peicillium sp.,Mucor sp., Yeast sp., Rhizopus sp., Epicoecum sp., Gymnoaseus sp., Cladosporium sp., Mortierella sp. as well as Bacteria. Generally, more organisms were isolated in June than the other months with Mortierella sp. being the only one not isolated in that month. Vital feed with 8 different isolates had the highest diversity of fungal species while the others had between 4 and 5 species. Prevalence rates across the feed types, generally ranged from 18.76% in layer mash to 30.03% in broiler finisher. The four Aspergillus sp. isolated came from GM and BF. This study highlights the need for constant monitoring of moulds in commercial feedstuff produced in the humid tropical environments such as Imo state, Nigeria. There is also the need to routinely include fungal growth nhibitors in commercial feeds since moulds are capable of reducing the nutritional values of feedstuff as well as elaborating pathogenic toxins.