Saturday, August 30, 2014

A Comparative Study of Organic Farming with GM Farming - Organic Cotton's Advantages

Organic cotton is that cotton which is obtained from non-genetically modified plants without use of any pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. As the use of chemicals (whether toxic or not) is avoided, its cultivation helps sustaining environment biodiversity and helps in balancing the ecosystem. 

One of the major drawbacks of non-organic cotton cultivation is its harmful effect on the health of farmers and excessive pollution caused due to continuous use of insecticides and synthetic fertilizers to get additional yield. Although the cotton consumption rate has also increased which calls for additional production, but at the same time balance between the nature and ecosystem has to be maintained.  

Organic Cotton: Image Source

In general, in a 100% cotton product, only 70-75% is cotton and the remaining percentage constitutes of thousands of chemicals, binders, and resins which are used in cultivation and product manufacturing. So one way or another, chemical consumption in our daily lives has gone up, in form of various products that we use every day, be it clothes, handkerchiefs, bed-sheets etc.

In organic cotton cultivation, untreated seeds or non-GM cotton seeds are used. As no insecticide or synthetic fertilizers or other poisonous chemicals have to be used, the soil must be nutrient rich. In order to maintain the soil fertility, cotton is grown in alternate years with cotton as main crop and red gram/ green gram/black gram, pea/soybean or maize/sorghum/legume as intercrop with crop rotation.

Deep ploughing should be done on yearly basis to destroy larvae or cocoons. Green manuring and use of plant leaf litter also helps to improve soil fertility. Weeding from organic cotton cultivated field should be done manually or hand-hoeing method should be adopted instead of chemical use.

Benefits of Organic Cotton
1.      In case of GM cotton cultivation, farmers and workers suffer from respiratory problems and skin allergic reactions. However, as use of toxic chemicals and synthetic fertilizers is avoided in organic cotton cultivation, health risks have reduced to certain limit.
2.      Organic farming plays a vital role in reducing environmental pollution as eco-friendly techniques are used for cotton cultivation.
3.      As GM cotton seeds are highly expensive and a very high hike in their price is observed every year, which increases the expense of farmers. But in case of organic cotton, seed price are constant and their yield is nearly twice as compared to GM cotton.
4.      It has been found that non-organic cotton final product which we are using in our day-to - day life contains toxic chemical residue which can be absorbed through skin and can cause allergies or skin rashes. However, the end products made up of organic cotton are chemical free and ecofriendly.

In a nutshell, Organic Farming is best suited for Indian ecosystem and Indian ethos. We might have an ever increasing population whose demands can be satiated by increasing the crop production by genetically modifying the seeds but we are not yet in a position to handle its aftermaths. When medically advanced European nations are still doubtful about the potential threats of GM seeds, it’s appropriate that we Indians stick to the conventional forms of farming, which have been tested over a long period of time. 

Friday, August 22, 2014

Genetically Modified Cotton or Genetically Engineered Cotton (Bt Cotton)


Cotton is India’s important cash crop which gives employment to more than 50 million people of country starting from its cultivation to finished end product. Cotton is grown on 32 million hectares around the world while the cultivation of genetically modified cotton (GM) accounts for nearly 25 million hectares from the total. In India cotton is cultivated in about 12 million hectares, ranking second in global cotton production after China. More than 92% of India’s cotton production is genetically modified.

Bt Cotton Cultivation(Image Source)


What is genetically Modified (GM) Cotton?
The bollworm, which is a main crop’s pest, destroys a large percentage of the cultivated cotton every year and farmers in return uses insecticides and pesticides up to 20 times a year to reduce the bollworm effect and to increase the cotton production. In 1997, Monsanto introduced new cotton variety into the market which was highly resistant to the bollworm. This pest resistant cotton was engineered with a bacterial gene by Monsanto Scientists from the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt; gene donor) which contains very specific insect poison.

Genetically Modified Cotton in India
In 2002, Bt cotton was introduced in India by Monsanto under the trade name Bollgard, in a joint venture with Mahyco, a Indian seed company with aim:

     i. To reduce the pesticides amount required for pest control; which will further help in reducing the pollution caused by insecticides and pesticides.
   ii. To increase the farmer income by increasing the cotton production as the crop losses due to pest attacks were expected to decrease.

Within the few years of Bt cotton cultivation, India’s contribution to world’s cotton production increased from 14% in 2002 to 20% in 2007 but a quick and dramatic change was observed in this pattern. The productivity of cotton started to decline from 566 Kg/ ha in 2007 to 475 Kg/ha in 2010 which is further estimated to drop up to 300 Kg/ha in coming years.

The factor responsible for the failures of Bt cotton in India includes poor quality seed, erratic rainfall, bollworm resistance to Cry toxin produced by Bt cotton, emergence of secondary pests like mealy bug, thrips etc. and change in the agriculture conditions, as Bt technology was developed in US, so it is not well adapted to Indian cotton cultivation environment.

To overcome the failures of Bollgard, Monsanto in 2006 introduced Bollgard-II in the market which is having two Bt genes instead if single gene as in case of Bollard-I.

Impact of Bt Cotton in India

     Farmers from different parts of the country who have cultivated and harvested Bt cotton complained of respiratory problems and skin allergic reactions.
   ii.  Many farmers reported that their cattle have died after grazing on plant debris from cleared Bt cotton fields.
 iii.  As bollworm has developed resistance to Bt cotton, the use of insecticides and pesticides has increased in the cotton fields. Emergence of secondary pests has forced farmers to use highly toxic chemicals to reduce their effect on the cotton yield. Thus the expenditure on the insecticides and pesticides has considerably increased although the fact is that Bt cotton production has shown decline in the recent years.
 iv. Bt cotton seeds are highly expensive as compared to conventional hybrid cotton seeds. Further, these require proper irrigation and costly fertilizers to increase the yield. So, the farmer cost factor has increased.
   v.   As Bt cotton has failed to overcome the farmers expectations, it has resulted in heavy human toll. When the farmers are unable to pay their loans which they have taken from banks or moneylenders due to factors like decline in the cotton production or collapsing of cotton market, they are left with choices none other than either to live in poverty or to commit suicide. A report shows that in 2008, nearly 16,195 Indian farmers have committed suicide and in 2009, the number has increased to 17,365.
 vi. Bt cotton has encouraged dependence on single seed supplier as no one can find conventional hybrid cotton seeds in the market. So, farmers are forced to purchase seed and herbicide from the same supplier on high prices.

Bt Cotton, at first glance looks like an essential requirement considering the huge population of our country and our limited land resources. However, the long term implications of Bt Cotton are not at all in favor of the populace as well as the vegetation.

Probably the stance of governments needs reconsideration with respect to Bt Cotton.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Classification of Textile Fibers: Textile Fibers

The following figure gives us a rough idea about the basic classification of the Textile Fibers.

Broadly these fibers are classified as Natural Fibers & Man Made Fibers.


Classification of Textile Fibers

Friday, August 8, 2014

Textile Fibers (TE-212) (HIMTU Syllabus)

Textile Fibers (TE-212)  
Course Code
TE-212
L=3  T=1   P=0
Name of the course
                    Textile Fibers 
Lectures to be delivered
52 (1 Hr Each )(L=39,T=13 for each semester)
Semester End Examination
Max.Time: 3hrs
Max Marks :100
Min Marks :40
Continuous assessment (based on sessional tests 50% , Tutorials /Assignments 30% ,quiz /Seminar 10% , Attendance 10%)
Max Marks :50
Instructions
  1. The question paper will consist of five sections A, B, C, D and E. Section E will be Compulsory, it will consist of a single question with 10-20 subparts of short answer type, which will cover the entire syllabus and will carry 20% of the total marks of the semester end examination for the course. Section A, B, C and D will have two questions from the respective sections of the syllabus and each question will carry 20% of the total marks of the semester end examination for the course.
  2. Candidates are required to attempt five questions in all selecting one question from each of the section A, B, C and D of the question paper and all the subparts of the questions in section E. Use of non-programmable calculators are allowed..
SECTION -A
 INTRODUCTION: Historical Evolution of Textiles. Definition of Textiles, Fibre, Staple fibre, Filament, Yarn, Thread, Fabric and Clothing.  Characteristics of Textile Fibre. Classification of Textile Fibre.                         
  CELLULOSIC FIBRES: Cotton – Varieties: Genetically modified Cotton, Organic Cotton & Coloured Cotton, Cultivation and harvesting, Chemical composition, Chemical structure, Physical properties, Chemical properties and uses. Jute-Cultivation, Retting, Fibre Extraction, Properties and uses.                         
SECTION -B
 PROTEIN FIBRES: Wool – Types, Fibre extraction,  Chemical Composition, Chemical structure, Physical properties,  Chemical properties and uses.
Silk – Types, Production of Raw silk, Wild silk, Spun silk, Chemical composition,  Chemical structure,  Physical properties,  Chemical properties and uses.     

 REGENERATED FIBRES: Regenerated Cellulosic Fibres-Principle of manufacture, Viscose rayon production, Purification of viscose fibre, Physical properties, Chemical properties & Uses.  Modification of viscose rayon. Other regenerated cellulosic fibres – Tencel, Modal and Bamboo.                         Regenerated Protein Fibres-Principle of manufacture. Casein fibre. Vicara fibre.  Ardil fibre.  General properties.
                                                                       SECTION -C
 POLYAMIDE FIBRES:  Classification of Nylon fibres. General chemical structure of Nylon. General properties of Nylon.  Manufacture of Nylon 6. Uses.  Aromatic polyamides - properties and applications                         
POLYESTER FIBRE: Manufacture of polyester. Chemical structure.  Physical and chemical properties.  Uses.                              
  SECTION -D
 OTHER FIBRES: Introduction about Polyolefin fibres, Vinyl fibres, Elastomeric fibres, High performance fibres and Inorganic fibres. Unconventional natural fibres.                                                                                                           

 IDENTIFICATION OF FIBRES:  Feeling Test. Burning test. Microscopic test Staining Test. Chemical test and Density measurement.                                                                                                                       

TEXT  BOOKS                                                                                                                              

1.   S P Mishra, “A Text Book of Fibre Science and Technology,” New Age.  International (P) Ltd., Pub., New        Delhi, 2000.
2.   H V Sreenivasamurthy, “Introduction to Textile Fibres”, The Textile Association India, Mumbai, 1998.

REFERENCE BOOKS
  1. Bernard P Corbman, “Textiles : Fibre to Fabric,” McGraw Hill Book Co., Singapore, 1983.   
  1. Marjory L Joseph, “Essentials of Textiles”, CBS College Publishing, Newyork, 1984, ISBN:0030627389

Theory of Textile Machines (HIMTU Syllabus)


Theory  of Textile Machines (TE-311)
Course Code
TE-311
L=3  T= 1   P=0
Name of the course
Theory  of Textile Machines
Lectures to be delivered
52(1 Hr Each )(L=39,T=13 for each semester)
Semester End Examination
Max.Time: 3hrs
Max Marks :100
Min Marks :40
Continuous assessment (based on sessional tests 50%, Tutorials /Assignments 30%, quiz /Seminar 10% ,Attendance 10%)
Max Marks :50
Instructions
  1. The question paper will consist of five sections A, B, C, D and E. Section E will be Compulsory, it will consist of a single question with 10-20 subparts of short answer type, which will cover the entire syllabus and will carry 20% of the total marks of the semester end examination for the course. Section A, B, C and D will have two questions from the respective sections of the syllabus and each question will carry 20% of the total marks of the semester end examination for the course.

  1. Candidates are required to attempt five questions in all selecting one question from each of the section A, B, C and D of the question paper and all the subparts of the questions in section E. Use of non-programmable calculators are allowed.

                                                SECTION -A
Basic concepts: Kinematics of machine, kinematics link and their different type, types of kinematics pair, kinematics chain, mechanism and inversion of four bar chain and slider crank mechanism.  Degree of freedom. Velocity Analysis: Motion of a link, velocity of a point on a link by relative velocity method, velocities and acceleration of four bar mechanism, slider crank mechanisms, rubbing velocity at a pin  joint. Velocity of a point on a link by instantaneous centre method, properties and types of I-centre, Kennedy theorem and methods of locating I-centres in a mechanism.
Belt, rope and chain drive: Types of belt drives, velocity ratio, law of belting, length of belt, ratio of friction tensions, power transmitted, effect of centrifugal tension on power transmission, condition for maximum power transmission, concept of slip and creep.  Use of V belts, ropes, chain, chain length and angular speed ratio, relative advantage and disadvantage of chain and belt drives.
SECTION -B
Gears:  Classification of gears, terminology used in gear, law of gearing velocity of sliding, forms of teeth, construction and properties of an involutes, cycloidal teeth, effect of centre distance variation on the velocity ratio, involutes profile tooth gear, length of path of contact, arc of contact, number of pairs  in contact, interference, minimum number of teeth to avoid the interference between rack and pinion, undercutting, terminology of helical and worm gears.
Gear trains: Definition, simple, compound, reverted and epicyclic gear trains, velocity ratio of epicyclic gear trains.


SECTION -C

Cams and follower: Types of cams and followers, cam terminology, types of motion of the follower, analysis of motion of the follower, analysis of motion of the follower for  cams with specified contours.
Balancing:  Static and dynamic balancing, balancing of several masses in different planes, balancing of reciprocating masses, balancing machines.
SECTION -D
Flywheels:  Turning  moment  diagram  for  steam  engine, four  stroke internal   combustion engines, fluctuation of energy and speed in flywheels,  use of  flywheel 
Application in Textiles: Belts, chairs, gear drives in textile machines. Different types of cam followers used in textile machines.

 TEXT BOOKS
1.      Bevan T, “The Theory of Machines”, CBS Publishers and Distributors, New Delhi, 2002.
2.      Bansal R K, “A text book of Theory of Machines”, Laxmi Publication Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi.

REFERENCE BOOKS
  1. Rattan S S, “Theory of Machines”, Tata Mc Graw Hill, New Delhi, 2001.
  2.  Ghosh A and Mallik A K, “Theory of mechanism and machines”, Affiliated East West Press Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi, 1988