An experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, to study the yield and quality of aromatic fine rice as affected by variety and nutrient management during the period from June to December 2013. The experiment comprised three aromatic fine rice varieties viz. BRRI dhan34, BRRI dhan37 and BRRI dhan38, and eight nutrient managements viz. control (no manures and fertilizers), recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers, cowdung at 10 t ha-1, poultry manure at 5 t ha-1, 50% of recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers + 50% cowdung, 50% of recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers + 50% poultry manure, 75% of recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers + 50% cowdung and 75% of recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers + 50% poultry manure. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The tallest plant (142.7 cm), the highest number of effective tillers hill(10.02), number of grains panicle (152.3), panicle length (-1 -122.71cm), 1000-grain weight (15.55g) and grain yield (3.71 t ha-1) were recorded in BRRI dhan34. The highest grain protein content (8.17%) was found in BRRI dhan34 whereas the highest aroma was found in BRRI dhan37 and BRRI dhan38. The highest number of effective tillers hill(11.59), number of grains panicle (157.6), panicle length (24.31 cm-1-1) and grain yield (3.97 t ha-1) were recorded in the nutrient management of 75% recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers + 50% cowdung (5 t ha-1). The treatment control (no manures and fertilizers) gave the lowest values for these parameters. The highest grain yield (4.18 t ha-1) was found in BRRI dhan34 combined with 75% recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers + 50% cowdung, which was statistically identical to BRRI dhan34 combined with 75% of recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers + 50% poultry manure and the lowest grain yield (2.7 t ha-1) was found in BRRI dhan37 in control (no manures and fertilizers). The highest grain protein content (10.9 %) was obtained in the interaction of BRRI dhan34 with recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers which was as good as that of BRRI dhan38 and 75% of recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers + 50% poultry manure. The highest aroma was found in BRRI dhan38 combined with 75% recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers + 50% cowdung.J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 12(2): 279-284, December 2014

Under a multi-centre study conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research, 1,511 samples of parboiled rice were collected from rural and urban areas of 11 states representing different geographical regions of India. These samples were analysed for contamination with aflatoxin B(1.) The presence of aflatoxin B(1) at levels=5 microg g(-1) was found in 38.5% of the total number of samples of the parboiled rice. About 17% of the total samples showed the presence of aflatoxin B(1) above the Indian regulatory limit of 30 microg kg(-1). No statistically significant difference in percentage of samples contaminated with >30 microg kg(-1) was observed between pooled rural (19.4%) and urban (14.5%) data. A median value of 15 microg kg(-1) of aflatoxin B(1) was observed in samples from Assam, Bihar and Tripura. In all other states surveyed the median value was <5 microg?kg(-1).

An experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during the period from December 2013 to May 2014 to evaluate the integrated use of poultry manure with prilled urea and USG for improving the growth, yield and protein content of aromatic Boro rice (cv. BRRI dhan50). The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The experiment comprised 14 treatments viz. control (no manure and no fertilizer), recommended dose of prilled urea (115 kg N ha-1), urea super granules (USG) 1.8 g (55 kg N ha-1), USG 2.7 g (80 kg N ha-1), poultry manure (PM) 2.5 t ha-1, PM 5 t ha-1, recommended dose of prilled urea + PM 2.5t ha-1, recommended dose of prilled urea + PM 5 t ha-1, 50% of recommended dose of prilled urea + PM 2.5 t ha-1, 50% of recommended dose of prilled urea + PM 5 t ha-1, USG 1.8 g + PM 2.5 t ha-1, USG 1.8 g + PM 5 t ha-1, USG 2.7 g + PM 2.5 t ha-1and USG 2.7 g + PM 5 t ha-1. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Morphological characteristics, yield contributing characters and yield of aromatic Boro rice (cv. BRRI dhan50) were significantly influenced by integrated use of poultry manure with prilled urea and  USG. USG 2.7 g + PM 5 t ha-1 gave the highest plant height, number of tillers hill-1 and total dry matter production at all sampling dates while their corresponding lowest values were recorded in control. The highest yield contributing characters viz. number of effective tillers hill-1 (13.08), grains panicle-1 (124.26g) and 1000-grain weight  (21.41g) were recorded in USG 2.7 g + PM 5 t ha-1 and the lowest values were recorded in control. The highest grain yield (5.33 t ha-1) and protein content (7.49%) were obtained at USG 2.7 g + PM 5 t ha-1 which was as good as recommended dose of prilled urea (115 kg N ha-1) + PM 5 t ha-1, USG 2.7 g + PM 2.5 t ha-1, USG 1.8 g + PM 5 t ha-1, recommended dose of prilled urea (115 kg N ha-1) + PM 2.5 t ha-1 while the lowest one (2.00 t ha-1) was obtained in control plots. The integrated use of poultry manure (5 t ha-1) with USG 1.8 g (55 kg N ha-1) appeared as the promising practice because of reducing considerable amount of prilled urea or USG in aromatic Boro rice (cv. BRRI dhan50) cultivation in terms of grain yield and grain protein content.Progressive Agriculture 27 (2): 86-93, 2016

Selection of appropriate weed management strategy helps reduce rice yield loss due to weeds. Despite some undesirable side-effects, no viable alternative is currently available to shift the chemical weed management in rice. However, time of herbicide application is very important with respect to its efficacy. Keeping in mind the inevitability of herbicidal weed control, the current study was designed to evaluate the response of selected aromatic fine rice varieties of Bangladesh to different herbicides based weed management practices compare to farmers' practices. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The experiment consisted of five aromatic rice varieties; Kalijira, BRRI dhan34, BRRI dhan37, BRRI dhan38 and Binadhan-13, and six different weed management practices comprising no weeding, weed free, mechanical + manual weeding, pre-emergence herbicide + manual weeding, post-emergence herbicide + manual weeding and pre-+ post-emergence herbicide. Eleven weed species belonging to five families were observed in the experimental plots. Based on the summed dominance ratio (SDR), grassy weed species Echinochloa crusgalli (SDR of 30.7) was the most dominant species, whereas broadleaf weed Nymphaea nouchali (SDR of 0.83) was the least one. Among the weed control treatments, application of pre-+ post emergence herbicides offered the highest reduction in weed density and biomass at all sampling dates which resulted in minimum crop-weed competition facilitating improvement in the yield contributing characters and finally resulted in the highest grain yield (2.5 t ha −1 ) and harvest index (30.7%) next to the weed free treatment. The variety BRRI dhan38 gave the highest grain yield (3.4 t ha −1 ) due to the highest performance of the yield contributing characters among the varieties. In interaction, BRRI dhan38 with pre-+ post-emergence herbicide application gave the highest yield (3.4 t ha −1 ) apart from the weed free treatment. Being efficient in weed density and biomass reduction as well as the highest yield producer, sequential application of pre-and post-emergence herbicides may be recommended for effective weed management practices in BRRI dhan38.

A survey was conducted to know the present status of naturally occurring seaweed flora and their utilization in Bangladesh by interviews of scientific officers of MFTS (Marine Fisheries and Technology Station, Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Cox’s Bazar), NGO officials associated with seaweed research project, local seaweed food products manufacturer, seaweed collectors and Mog or Rakhyine tribal community of Cox’s Bazar and St. Martin Island. Lack of knowledge on availability, distribution, seasonal variation, utilization status is causing impediment on utilization (e.g. seaweeds as human food, hydrocolloids, animal feed, fertilizer, cosmetic products, etc.) of available seaweeds naturally occurring in Bangladesh. Seaweeds are available along the whole Bangladeshi coast, mostly in St. Martin Island, Cox’s Bazar and Sundarbans Mangrove forest. Total 193seaweed species including 19 commercially important species, belonging to 94 genera are found. Approximately, 5,000 metric ton of seaweed biomass is available. Due to seasonal variation in water quality parameters, generally seaweeds are available from October to April, but highest abundance occurs from January to March. Seaweed salad and sauce has been utilizing by Mog people as food. About 400 seaweed collectors at St. Martin Island annually harvested 6-9 metric tons of wet seaweeds (Hypnea spp.) for smuggling to Myanmar. Different value added food, functional food and personal care products have prepared by Govt. institution, NGO and in private sector. Considering the economic importance and potentials of seaweeds, for effective and environmentally sustainable utilization, special concern is required by both government and private organizations.Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.3(1): 203-216, April 2016