The objectives of the research were to isolate phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) from the rhizoplane of rice (Oryza sativa L.) cv. BRRIdhan 29 cultivated in acidic soils of Tangail in Bangladesh and evaluate their performances in phosphate solubilization in both in vitro and in vivo conditions. A total of 10 bacterial strains were isolated and purified by repeated streak culture on nutrient agar medium. Upon screening, five isolates (OS01, OS03, OS07, OS08 and OS10) showed varying levels of phosphate solubilizing activity in agar plate and broth assays. Among them, the strain OS07 (B1) and two previously isolated PSB strains B2 and B3 were selected for evaluation for their performances in rice alone or in combination of TSP (triple super phosphate: P1) and rock phosphate (P2). Plant height and the number of tillers per plant were significantly increased by all PSB isolates when used in combination with TSP but PSB alone did not influence much on plant height and the number of tillers except B1. The levels of mineral nutrients content in rice plant tissues were generally increased by the application of the PSB in combination with TSP, while the performances of B1 isolate was superior in all aspects to B2 and B3 isolates.

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Industrialisation and unplanned urbanisation in different city areas of Bangladesh have greatly distorted the natural water resources. The present study was undertaken to evaluate ionic contamination level including heavy metals in effluents, surface and groundwater of Rangpur city, Bangladesh. Total 29 samples (24 effluents and surface water and 5 groundwater) were collected from the city area and analysed for various physicochemical parameters at the Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during January to September 2017. The concentrations of heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb, Cr, and Zn) in water samples were measured by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Major cation chemistry showed their dominance in the order of Na +

A pot experiment was conducted at the net house of the Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during the period of November, 2017 to March, 2018 to optimize different levels of Zn and B for better growth and yield attributes of tomato (cv. Ruma VF). The experiment included two factors [factor- A viz., control (Zn0 ), Zn @ 4.0 kg ha-1 (Zn4),  Zn @ 6.0 kg ha-1 (Zn6) and Zn @ 8.0 kg ha-1 (Zn8) and factor B viz., control (B0), B @ 2.0 kg ha-1 (B2) and B @ 3.0 kg ha-1 (B3)], which was laid out in a completely randomized block design with 4 replications, thus total number of pots were 48. Zinc sulphate and boric acid were applied as the source of Zn and B that were applied during pot preparation along with recommended doses of N, P, K and S. The study revealed that application of different doses of Zn increased number of flower clusters plant-1 at 80 days after transplanting, fruit length, fruit diameter, number of fruits plant-1 and yield of tomato up to 4.0 kg ha-1. Similarly, application of B @ 2.0 kg ha-1 produced the highest number of flower clusters plant-1, fruit length and fruit diameter. On the other hand, the highest number of fruits plant-1 and yield of tomato were obtained by the application of B @ 3.0 kg ha-1 which was statistically similar to the application of B @ 2.0 kg ha-1. Combined application of Zn and B, @ 4.0 and 2.0 kg ha-1, respectively appeared as the best practice for better growth and yield of tomato, and therefore it may be recommended to boost up tomato productivity.

The effect of alcoholic extracts of Costus specious (Family: Zingiberaceae) was evaluated in experimental models of pain and inflammation. Oral administration of 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg of C. specious extracts were used for the above study. Crude extracts of C. specious (300 mg/kg dose) showed maximum time needed for the response against thermal stimuli (7.242 ± 0.532 s) which is comparable to diclofenac sodium (8.471 ± 0.257 s) in the hot plate test. The MPH (Maximum Possible Analgesia) has been found to be 14.285 for 300 mg/kg dose of the crude extract while the MPH for diclofenac was 15.857 after 60 min of administration in the hot tail-flick method. The crude extract at 300 and 200 mg/kg doses showed significant reduction in acetic acid induced writhings in mice with a maximum effect of 59.661% reduction at 300 mg/kg dose which is comparable to standard diclofenac sodium (73.4%). Alcoholic extract of C. specious showed significant inhibition in serotonin and egg albumin induced hind paw oedema in rats at 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg of the crude extracts respectively (Serotonin induced edema 44.22; 53.75; 58.51%; egg albumin induced edema -41.317; 53.892; 59.880% inhibition after 4 h respectively). The antiinflammatory effects showed by the extract were comparable to that of standard indomethacin 5 mg/kg (Serotonin induced edema 77.56%; egg albumin induced edema 77.844% inhibition after 4 h). These results suggest that the extract possesses both the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity on mice and rat model.