Latest news with #Eucalyptus
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Science
- The Hindu
TNAU awarded patent titled ‘Nano Emulsion Based Botanical Herbicide and Preparation Method Thereof'
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) has been awarded a patent on Nano herbicide by the Controller of Patents, Patent Office, Government of India. The patent titled 'Nano Emulsion Based Botanical Herbicide and Preparation Method Thereof' was the outcome of research work carried out at the Centre for Agricultural Nanotechnology for the development of a novel form of herbicide using naturally-produced allelopathic chemicals derived from Eucalyptus citriodora. According to the inventors N. Swathika, K. S. Subramanian and S. Marimuthu, eucalyptus plants produce volatile metabolites that inhibit the neighbouring plants in the natural ecosystem. The fallen leaves surrounding the trees release a wide array of terpenoids especially eucalyptol and citronellal. Since these compounds are highly volatile in nature, efforts were undertaken to develop nano-system to encapsulate them in a micelle with a guar gum as a biopolymer. The product was developed using two-step process involving high pressure homogenisation and ultra sonication. This bio-nano-herbicide has both pre-emergence and post-emergence herbicidal action against a notorious grassy weed Echinochloa crusgalli. There was a pre-emergence control of weed seeds at 1000 ppm (parts per million) while highest post-emergence toxicity was observed at 1% spray of nano-emulsion, the researchers explained.
Time Business News
6 days ago
- General
- Time Business News
How to Stop Trees from Growing? Time Business News
Ever looked at a tree in your yard and thought, 'You're getting a bit too ambitious'? Whether it's roots threatening your foundation, branches encroaching on power lines, or simply blocking that lovely sunset, there are valid reasons to want to stop a tree from growing. But there's a smart way to do it—and a not-so-smart way. In this guide, we'll cover the safe, effective, and ethical methods to slow down or even stop a tree's growth without causing unnecessary damage to your property or the environment. Trees are living organisms that go through cycles: sprouting, maturing, aging, and eventually decaying. But unless acted upon, many trees can live—and grow—for decades or even centuries. Sunlight, water, and soil nutrients all contribute to a tree's growth. Trees also expand through their roots underground and their canopy above. Some trees grow really fast. Think Silver Maple, Eucalyptus, or Cottonwood. These species often cause the most headaches in residential spaces. Pruning isn't just a cosmetic trim—it can significantly stunt a tree's growth if done right. This involves trimming back the outer edges of the canopy. Done carefully, it reduces the tree's energy intake via photosynthesis. Dig a trench around the tree to sever smaller roots. This restricts nutrient and water uptake—essentially putting the tree on a diet. If you're planting from scratch, choose dwarf or slow-growing varieties like Japanese Maple, Dogwood, or Amur Maple. Limit fertilizers. Trees fed high-nitrogen soil will grow faster and taller. Withhold nitrogen to naturally slow them down. Tree Growth Regulators are like tree tranquilizers. They inhibit hormones responsible for cell elongation. TGRs are injected into the soil or directly into the trunk, reducing leaf size, shoot length, and overall vigor. Typically during the growing season—spring or early summer is ideal. Not for the faint of heart, herbicides can stop a tree from growing or even kill it. Use a drill to bore holes into the trunk and pour in a non-selective herbicide like glyphosate. Always wear gloves, goggles, and read labels. Never apply chemicals near water bodies or food gardens. Physical root barriers prevent underground spread, particularly near driveways or foundations. Girdling involves removing a ring of bark around the tree. It interrupts nutrient flow, slowly killing or stunting the tree. Use with caution. Lopping off the top of a tree may seem effective, but it stresses the tree, making it regrow faster or even die prematurely. Avoid if possible. Do your homework. Some trees are meant to be giants, while others are happy staying shrub-sized. Early pruning, proper spacing, and minimal fertilizing can keep trees small and manageable. Trees in containers grow slower due to restricted root space. This is perfect for patios and small gardens. Removing a tree doesn't mean it's gone. Grind the stump and treat it with a stump killer to prevent suckers from sprouting. Use rock salt or copper nails in the stump to slowly poison the root system. It's a long game—but effective. If the tree is near pipes, sidewalks, or the house—don't DIY it. Arborists have tools and training to manage risky removals. Cutting or treating a tree near power lines? Always call in a pro. It's dangerous and often regulated. Cities often protect certain species or trees over a certain age or size. Always check local laws before altering or removing trees. Trees are vital to ecosystems. Removing one might harm local wildlife or contribute to erosion and climate change. Stopping a tree from growing isn't always about being destructive—it's often about being responsible. Whether you want to slow it down, control its size, or remove it entirely, there are effective and humane ways to do it. Always weigh the environmental, aesthetic, and legal factors before making your move. Remember: A well-managed tree is a happy tree… even if it's a little shorter than it wanted to be. 1. Can vinegar stop a tree from growing? Vinegar can damage leaves and smaller growths but is rarely strong enough to stop a mature tree's growth entirely. 2. How do I keep a tree small without killing it? Regular pruning, root restriction, and avoiding high-nitrogen fertilizers are your best bets. 3. Are there trees that naturally stay small? Yes! Dwarf varieties like Japanese Maple, Crabapple, or Serviceberry are excellent low-maintenance choices. 4. How long does it take for herbicides to stop growth? Anywhere from a few weeks to several months depending on the method and tree size. 5. What's the most humane way to stop a tree from growing? Pruning and growth regulators are the safest, most sustainable ways to control tree size without killing the tree. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Sydney Morning Herald
6 days ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Why isn't there a single social media-savvy MP in Parliament?
Chandler-Mather is in some ways a poor messenger, given his loss, but he insists there are longer-term risks from politicians' lack of engagement with voters on social media platforms. 'Australia's going down the pathway of this sort of slow disengagement,' says Chandler-Mather. 'Like, the number of people disengaging from politics increases every year. The number of people who feel sort of distrustful of politics increases every year.' Tim Doyle, a marketing savant who has done contract work for Labor in the past and now leads telehealth company Eucalyptus, says Australian political parties are behind much of the Western world. 'They also only fire up the engine, which needs to be always on, about six weeks before an election,' Doyle says. Where an American politician like Mamdani might throw himself into the ocean fully clothed in midwinter as he declares 'I'm freezing… your rent', Australian MPs play it safe, Doyle says. 'Politicians are terrified of being vulnerable and that's the essential thing for social media,' he says. 'They have no idea what engagement matters. They preach to their true believers, who like and share their content, but that does nothing to convince the undecided voters they need.' Good social posts, he says, 'should make your true believers a little bit uncomfortable.' Only a handful of politicians tiptoe into the stunts and trends that might distinguish them online from the parade of slick brand videos and AI-generated slop. Dan Repacholi, the MP for the Hunter in NSW, has, for example, posted videos with fake wounds to promote safety in the mining industry and tells men to 'watch your nuts' as part of his role as a men's health envoy. One Nation's Please Explain cartoon has flourished online, but is between seasons. And Keith Wolahan, a Liberal MP who did extensive social media directed at Chinese-Australian voters, lost his Melbourne seat at the election. Loading But most MPs have only a few thousand followers, far fewer than niche hobby influencers, and fill their feed with screenshots of press releases, clips from television interviews and awkward, unedited speeches about the opening of local facilities. One Labor MP, speaking on condition of anonymity, says the government has no unified social media strategy outside of elections. 'People just do their own social media,' the MP says. 'After coming to government, I just don't have the time.' Former Labor campaign strategist Megan Lane says Australia's compulsory and preferential voting system means that politicians here can use social media differently than other countries. There is no need to persuade voters to back a candidate in a primary, to bring disengaged people to a booth on polling day, or to tack to extremes because preferential voting tends to bring those ballots back to the parties in the centre. Politics is also less polarised, making it less likely to be picked up by an algorithm online. 'Instead of exciting rusted-on supporters to drive up voter turnout, Australian politicians are essentially focused on persuading punters that they are the least bad option,' Lane says. Mainstream media too still has huge influence. Seven's Sunrise breakfast television program, for example, had a national average audience of 399,000 people as of July 16, according to figures from industry measurement provider Virtual Australia. Morning interviews often draw further reporting from outlets, as do scoops in newspapers, multiplying their audience throughout the day. But another dynamic is staffing. Political staffers on both sides of politics, who were not authorised to speak publicly, said social media was typically the responsibility of the most junior person in an MPs office. Career progression required going into policy development or traditional public relations. 'They all think about traditional media all the time and never social,' Doyle says of politicians, who are in their mid-40s on average when elected, according to data from the Parliamentary Library. Jenrick's approach is different. The MP employs a 21-year-old called Dov Forman to film his videos. Uniquely among political staffers, Forman is a social star in his own right who racked up millions of views filming the stories of his great-grandmother, a Holocaust survivor, during the pandemic. His expertise is evident in his style. Where most Australian MPs talk straight into the camera, Forman's videos for Jenrick are frenetic. His 58-second clip on fare evasion has 33 jump cuts. There is a risk in getting social media wrong, though. 'It's a personal choice,' says the Labor MP. 'How do you get people to focus on your message without turning yourself into a clown?' 'Some people in the crossbench are happy to veer towards silly stuff but if you want to be serious in government I don't think it's worthwhile.' Loading Chandler-Mather, the former Greens MP who developed a huge social media following, disagrees. 'The idea that 'We're a party of government, and so we can't propose anything other than tinker around the edges' is a completely self-serving argument,' Chandler-Mather says. He argues that politicians from the major parties lack the charisma and appealing messages that work online. 'To be honest, the calibre of Australian politician isn't fantastic,' Chandler-Mather concludes. His loss, he says, was a result of major party preferences and being outspent.
The Age
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Age
Why isn't there a single social media-savvy MP in Parliament?
Chandler-Mather is in some ways a poor messenger, given his loss, but he insists there are longer-term risks from politicians' lack of engagement with voters on social media platforms. 'Australia's going down the pathway of this sort of slow disengagement,' says Chandler-Mather. 'Like, the number of people disengaging from politics increases every year. The number of people who feel sort of distrustful of politics increases every year.' Tim Doyle, a marketing savant who has done contract work for Labor in the past and now leads telehealth company Eucalyptus, says Australian political parties are behind much of the Western world. 'They also only fire up the engine, which needs to be always on, about six weeks before an election,' Doyle says. Where an American politician like Mamdani might throw himself into the ocean fully clothed in midwinter as he declares 'I'm freezing… your rent', Australian MPs play it safe, Doyle says. 'Politicians are terrified of being vulnerable and that's the essential thing for social media,' he says. 'They have no idea what engagement matters. They preach to their true believers, who like and share their content, but that does nothing to convince the undecided voters they need.' Good social posts, he says, 'should make your true believers a little bit uncomfortable.' Only a handful of politicians tiptoe into the stunts and trends that might distinguish them online from the parade of slick brand videos and AI-generated slop. Dan Repacholi, the MP for the Hunter in NSW, has, for example, posted videos with fake wounds to promote safety in the mining industry and tells men to 'watch your nuts' as part of his role as a men's health envoy. One Nation's Please Explain cartoon has flourished online, but is between seasons. And Keith Wolahan, a Liberal MP who did extensive social media directed at Chinese-Australian voters, lost his Melbourne seat at the election. Loading But most MPs have only a few thousand followers, far fewer than niche hobby influencers, and fill their feed with screenshots of press releases, clips from television interviews and awkward, unedited speeches about the opening of local facilities. One Labor MP, speaking on condition of anonymity, says the government has no unified social media strategy outside of elections. 'People just do their own social media,' the MP says. 'After coming to government, I just don't have the time.' Former Labor campaign strategist Megan Lane says Australia's compulsory and preferential voting system means that politicians here can use social media differently than other countries. There is no need to persuade voters to back a candidate in a primary, to bring disengaged people to a booth on polling day, or to tack to extremes because preferential voting tends to bring those ballots back to the parties in the centre. Politics is also less polarised, making it less likely to be picked up by an algorithm online. 'Instead of exciting rusted-on supporters to drive up voter turnout, Australian politicians are essentially focused on persuading punters that they are the least bad option,' Lane says. Mainstream media too still has huge influence. Seven's Sunrise breakfast television program, for example, had a national average audience of 399,000 people as of July 16, according to figures from industry measurement provider Virtual Australia. Morning interviews often draw further reporting from outlets, as do scoops in newspapers, multiplying their audience throughout the day. But another dynamic is staffing. Political staffers on both sides of politics, who were not authorised to speak publicly, said social media was typically the responsibility of the most junior person in an MPs office. Career progression required going into policy development or traditional public relations. 'They all think about traditional media all the time and never social,' Doyle says of politicians, who are in their mid-40s on average when elected, according to data from the Parliamentary Library. Jenrick's approach is different. The MP employs a 21-year-old called Dov Forman to film his videos. Uniquely among political staffers, Forman is a social star in his own right who racked up millions of views filming the stories of his great-grandmother, a Holocaust survivor, during the pandemic. His expertise is evident in his style. Where most Australian MPs talk straight into the camera, Forman's videos for Jenrick are frenetic. His 58-second clip on fare evasion has 33 jump cuts. There is a risk in getting social media wrong, though. 'It's a personal choice,' says the Labor MP. 'How do you get people to focus on your message without turning yourself into a clown?' 'Some people in the crossbench are happy to veer towards silly stuff but if you want to be serious in government I don't think it's worthwhile.' Loading Chandler-Mather, the former Greens MP who developed a huge social media following, disagrees. 'The idea that 'We're a party of government, and so we can't propose anything other than tinker around the edges' is a completely self-serving argument,' Chandler-Mather says. He argues that politicians from the major parties lack the charisma and appealing messages that work online. 'To be honest, the calibre of Australian politician isn't fantastic,' Chandler-Mather concludes. His loss, he says, was a result of major party preferences and being outspent.
Hans India
07-07-2025
- General
- Hans India
Telangana CM launches plantation drive, urges women to take care of saplings like children
Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Monday launched 'Vana Mahotsavam', a massive plantation programme under which 18.03 crore saplings are to be planted across the state this monsoon. The Chief Minister inaugurated the programme at Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University at Rajendranagar in Rangareddy district. Accompanied by Forest and Environment Minister Konda Surekha, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) C. Suvarna, the Chief Minister planted the saplings at the Botanical Garden. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister called for planting at least two saplings in every house. He urged women to take care of the saplings like their own children. Voicing concern over global warming, he underlined the need for planting more trees to save the environment. 'If you protect trees, trees will protect you,' he said. CM Revanth Reddy emphasised the role women can play in environmental protection. He listed out the steps taken by his government for the welfare of women and also to encourage them to take entrepreneurship. Stating that the government is working for the empowerment of women, he said it was trying to give them self-respect through various initiatives. The Chief Minister also urged women to come forward to play an active role in politics. Stating that Assembly seats in the state will increase from 119 to 153, he said the implementation of 33 per cent reservation for women would mean that they will have 51 seats. 'I will take the responsibility of giving 60 tickets to women,' he said. PCCF Suvarna said 18.03 crore saplings will be planted across the state during this monsoon as part of Vana Mahotsavam. This programme is aimed at enhancing the state's forest cover and fostering environmental sustainability. She said all departments, especially Forest, Municipal Administration, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) will participate in the tree plantation drive. She noted that HMDA adopted 150 acres of land on the campus for Agriculture University for plantation. This includes a Botanical Garden spread over 40 acres. Suvarna said that in place of Subabul and Eucalyptus trees, traditional forest species native to Telangana are being planted on the campus. The alleged tree cutting on the university campus triggered a row on Sunday, with a section of students alleging that the authorities felled the trees to plant new saplings. The University authorities, however, clarified that trees harmful to the environment are being removed as part of the ongoing drive to make space for new and valuable plantations. PJTAU Vice-Chancellor Prof Aldas Janaiah clarified removal of Subabul and Eucalyptus trees on 150 acres as part of the greenery development initiative on the campus was taken up by the university through a formal auction process.
