A laboratory incubation experiment was conducted with the natural essential oil of peppermint (Mentha spicata, MS), dementholized oil (DMO), terpenes, and a chemical inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD), as coating materials for retardation of soil urea hydrolysis and nitrification. Retardation of nitrification was highest with DCD. The urea hydrolysis and nitrification processes were inhibited by all three natural products. Intensity of inhibition of both the processes increased with the level of application of the coating materials. With 0.50% level of coating, urea hydrolysis inhibition was in this decreasing order: DMO . terpenes . DCD . M. spicata oil; whereas at 1.00%, inhibition followed this order: terpenes . DMO . M. spicata oil . DCD. At 0.50% level of coating nitrification inhibition decreased in this order: M. spicata oil . DCD . DMO . terpenes; with 1.00%, the order was DCD . DMO . M. spicata oil . terpenes. All the three natural products (DMO, terpenes, and M. spicata oil) significantly retarded soil urease activity. These natural nitrification inhibitors significantly retarded Nitrosomonas. Nitrobacter, and total bacterial and actinomycete populations. Microbial activity retardation was more intense at a higher level of coating. We concluded that the different coating materials used could be used as potential retardants of urease activity as well as nitrification, unlike DCD, which is a potential retardant of nitrification and has little effect on the urea hydrolysis. The natural products, unlike chemical nitrification inhibitors, are less persistent, biodegradable, ecofriendly, and cheap.

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Two pot experiments under greenhouse condition were carried out to study the influence of vermicompost and zinc-enriched compost with two levels of iron and zinc on the productivity of geranium (Pelargonium graveolens). Joint application of vermicompost and zinc-enriched compost was effective in increasing the herb and oil yield over sole application of iron and zinc. Combined application of vermicompost and zinc-enriched compost gave better herb and oil yield in both the experiments. With application of vermicompost and zinc-enriched compost with two graded levels of iron, higher N, P, and K concentrations were observed with application of vermicompost (5 g kg 21 ), vermicompost (5 g kg 21 ), and Fe 12.5 ppm þ Znenriched compost 2.5 g kg 21 soil, respectively, over control. Highest reduction in soil pH was observed with an application of vermicompost at 5 g kg 21 soil; maximum soil organic carbon content was also recorded in the same treatment. In experiment II, joint application of vermicompost, zinc-enriched compost, and graded levels of zinc recorded highest N, P, and K concentration with treatments of Zn (15 ppm) þ vermicompost (2.5 g kg 21 ), vermicompost (5 g kg 21 ), and Zn (15 ppm) þ vermicompost (2.5 g kg 21 soil), respectively. Nitrogen, P, and K content increased by 36, 125, and 305%, respectively, with these treatments over the control.Chemical constituents of geranium oil such as cis-rose oxide, isomenthone, linalool, citronellyl, geranylformate, geranyl, and epi-g-eudesmol were significantly improved by combined application of Zn with vermicompost and Zn-enriched compost as compared to sole application of Zn. Similar effects were observed with Fe in combination with vermicompost and Zn-enriched compost on most of the chemical constituents of geranium oil. Physicochemical properties of the soil were also improved as macro-and micronutrient availability markedly increased in both the experiments because of combined application of vermicompost and Zn-enriched compost with two levels of Zn and Fe.

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Aegle marmelos is a deciduous tree with trifoliate leave commonly found in the Indian subcontinent. The present study is to diagnose the phytochemicals physiochemical, qualitative and quantitative estimation. Total phenolic content was recorded at 53.52±3.25 µg Gallic acid equivalent (GAE) /mg of plant extract, total tannin content was observed at 6.4±1.02 μg GAE/mg and total flavonoid content was recorded at 37.4±2.65 μg Quercetin equivalent/mg. The study also comprised the Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activity of plant leaves. Anti-inflammatory activity was examined through the HRBC method and compared with the standard drug diclofenac sodium. Ethanolic extract of leaves shows significant anti-inflammatory activity and provides 61.04±2.89 % of protection against hemolysis at 2000µg/ml of leave extract whereas at the same concentration diclofenac sodium provides only 54.55±2.35 % protection against hemolysis. The antioxidant potential of plant extract examines through DPPH free radical scavenging method. Leave extract showed better antioxidant activity in comparison to ascorbic acid. IC 50 of plant extract is 48.99 ±1.96 % which is also better than the value of IC 50 of ascorbic acid which was recorded at 50.39±2.05. The study showed that leaves extract of the plant has significant potential for the treatment of oxidative stress and inflammation.