Dear Group Members,
Let me share my views at this juncture on the management strategies developed by several researchers in India and abroad. It is beyond doubt that Integrated Parthenium management strategy with an emphasis on botanical and insect agents advocated by Padmashri Mahadevappa Ji is very effective in southern parts of India. I would like to add that even in northern India, I started working on it in 2001 in Delhi using Parthenium beetle (Zygogramma bicolorata) and surveyed the local plants having suppressive effects on Parthenium. During 2004, we identified a local weed (Jangli bathua) belonging to Chenopodiaceae and spread its seed at several places in and around Delhi along with Zygogramma.
We have been monitoring these biocontrol agents since then. Present obsevations taken in the Sept 2007 reveal that Parthenium in Delhi is contained and is hardly 15-20% based on the availability of its biomass as against the initial observations during 2004 in the open land. The combination of beetle, Zygogramma and jangli bathua, Kochea indica (earlier reported as Chenopodium album) is a viable option for Delhi and North Indian conditions to suppress Parthenium (R.D.Gautam, Md. Aslam Khan, Arun Samyal, A.K. Garg, M. Mahadevappa and Rajvir Sharma 2005c. Survey of the plants suppressing parthenium hysterophorus Linnaeus in Delhi. In Second International Conference on Parthenium Management, held at University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, 5-7 December, 2005, pp 94 - 97).
To see the prolific growth of Kochea indica and established population of the Parthenium beetle any one can visit/contact me during any season of the year at my phones (09810546703, 011-25840613). I shall appreciate receiving any query related to it or even feel proude of in supplying the nucleus weed seed/beetle population to any one interested in the science of Parthenium Management. It may be noted that both the agents are naturally spreading and I am sure that soon we will see their impact in the country at large with no
Parthenium as a threat to human health or environmental degradation.
Gautam, RD
Professor of Entomology
Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-12
Date: November 3, 2007
"Dr. M. Mahadevappa" <mahadevrice@...> wrote:
Dear All,I congratulate the team members who have succeeded in finding uses of parthenium.I want to add some feelings of mine. It is not correct to state that its suppression has been a failure. In Australia it is successful. In fact, In Karnataka ,Southeren Maharashtra and in some pockets of AP & TN, it has been under check through Integrated eco-friendly biocontroi methods. Those who are interested to see the area where it is under control, I will be happy to arrange a tour in the peak season of its growth during 2008 or immediately now..I believe that, putting it to use, will be a component of its control. It should be realized that growing it and putting it to use does not answer the problem oh health, environmental pollution and extinction of the native species that is going in after its invasion.Not withstanding my comments above,I fully agree that there is a need for a seminar on its uses. I will also participate in this seminar.If need be I will also associate in organizing it.Regs,M Mahadevappa
Pankaj Oudhia <pankajoudhia@gmail.com> wrote:This is research needing appreciation and support. I feel that there
is need to organize National or International Conference on possible
uses of Parthenium in order to bring the researchers working on this
aspect on one forum and compile the information on it.
I will disclose it after completion of report but Parthenium is
important part of my report on Diabetes.
regards
Pankaj Oudhia
--- In IPRNG@yahoogroups.co.in , "Pankaj Oudhia" <pankajoudhia@...> wrote:
>
> A noxious weed has its uses
> Raju William
> Tribune News Service
>
> Dehra Dun, November 1
> After various means of eradication and control of the noxious weed-
> parthenium hysterophorus, commonly known as congress grass, failed in
> the country the scientists of Forest Research Institute (FRI) here
> have finally evolved a high-value end use of it in the form of
> handmade paper, particle and fibreboards.
>
> The commercial viability of these products however is yet to be tested
> but this aspect calls for a serious consideration at the government or
> NGO-level, given the scale of the menace and failure of the widespread
> campaigns against it all over the country. Especially so, because the
> end products are free of allergic behaviour that this weed is
> notoriously known for.
>
> "We have not experienced any allergic properties after processing the
> weed into bio-composites at the temperature of 150°C and high
> pressure," said DP Khali, an expert of composite wood, who along with
> Sanjay Nathani worked on the three-year-long project commissioned by
> Department of Bio-Technology (DBT), Delhi.
>
> The project was taken up as earlier efforts to eradicate the weed
> through biological, chemical and manual ways had failed. So the idea
> of finding its economic use came up. The efforts of the FRI scientists
> have showed that the products can have plenty of use like false
> ceilings, partitioning, table tops and cabinets. The findings of the
> study will be presented at Bhartiya Vigyan Sammelan to be held at the
> end of this month at Bhopal.
>
> Though Khali said the commercial part of the products' viability was
> beyond their domain and was to be explored by the related experts, on
> the face of it, the procedures evolved by the scientists suggest it
> may suit the small-scale and cottage industries.
>
> http://www.tribuneindia.com/ 2007/20071102/ main7.htm
>
--------------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -------
Dr. M. MahadevappaAdvisor, JSS Rural Dev. Foundation. Mysore - 570 004
Ex-Chairman, ASRB, Ex-Vice Chancellor UAS, Dharwad
# 1576, 1st Cross, Chandra LayoutBangalore - 560 040 , Karnataka, INDIAPhone: (080) 23216040
Email: mahadevrice@yahoo.com _____________________ _________ _________ _________ __
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