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ID: 59715
Title: An assessment of terrestrial water storage, rainfall and river discharge over Northern India from satellite data.
Author: Satya Prakash, R.M. Gairola, F.Papa and A.K. Mitra
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (9) 1582-1586 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Earth-observation satellites, rainfall, river discharge, terrestrial water storage.
Abstract: Terrestrial water storage (TWS) plays a key role in the global water cycle and is highly influenced by climate variability and human activities. In this study, monthly TWS, rainfall and Ganga-Brahmaputra river discharge (GBRD) are analysed over India for the period of 2003-12 using remote sensing satellite data. The spatial pattern of mean TWS sows a decrease over a large and populous region of Northern India comprising the foothills of the Himalayas, the Indo-Gangetic Plains and North East India. Over this region, the mean monthly TWS exhibits pronounced seasonal cycle and a large interannual variability, highly correlated with rainfall and GBRD variations (r> 0.8) with a lag time of 2 months and 1 month respectively. The time series of monthly TWS shows a consistent and statistically significant decrease of about 1cm year-1 over Northern India, which is not associated with changes in rainfall and GBRD. This recent change in TWS suggests a possible impact of rapid industrialization, urbanization and increase in population on land water resources. Our analysis high-lights the potential of the Earth -observation satellite data for hydrological applications.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Mall, R.K., Gupta, A., Singh, R., Singh, R.S. and Rathore, L.S., Water resources and climate change: an Indian perspective. Curr. Sci, 2006, 90 (12), 1610-1626. Ramillien, G., Famiglietti, J.S. and Wahr, J., Detection of continental hydrology and glaciology signals from GRACE: a review Surv. Geophys., 2008, 29, 361-374; doi: 10.1007/s 10712-008-9048-9
Literature cited 2: Taylor, R.G. et al., Groundwater and climate change. Nature Climate Change, 2013, 3. 322-328; doi: 10.1038/NCCLIMATE1744. Tapley, B.D., Bettadpur, S., Ries, J.C., Thompson, P.F. and Watkins, M.M., GRACE measurements of mass variability in the Earth system. Science, 2004, 305, 503-505.

ID: 59714
Title: Soil information system: use and potentials in humid and semi-arid tropics.
Author: T. Bhattacharya, D. Sarkar, S.K. Ray, P.Chandran, D. K. Pal, D.K. Mandal, J. Prasad, G.S. Sidhu, K.M. Nair, A.K. Sahoo, T.H. Das, R.S. Singh, C. Mandal, R.Srivastava, T.K. Sen, S. Chatterji, N.G.Patil, G.P. Obireddy, S.K.Mahapatra, K.S. Anil Kumar, K
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (9) 1550-1564 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Agricultural land-use planning, humid and semi-arid tropics, soil information system, soil information technology, temporal datasets.
Abstract: The articles presented in this special section emanated from the researches of consortium members of the National Agricultural Innovative Project (NAIP, Component 4) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi. These researches have helped develop a soil information system (SIS). In view of the changing scenario all over the world, the need of the hour is to get assistance from a host of researchers specialized in soils, crops, geology, geography and information technology to make proper use of the datasets. Equipped with the essential knowledge of data storage and retrieval for management recommendations, these experts should be able to address the issues of land degradation, biodiversity, food security, climate change and ultimately arrive at an appropriate agricultural land-use planning. Moreover, as the natural resource information is an essential prerequisite for monitoring and predicting global environmental change with special reference to climate and land use options, the SIS needs to be a dynamic exercise to accommodate temporal datasets, so that subsequently it should result in the evolution of the soil information technology. The database developed through this NAIP would serve as an example of the usefulness of the consortium and the research initiative of ICAR involving experts from different fields to find out the potentials of the soils of humid and semi-arid bioclimatic systems of the country.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: ASRIS, Australian Soil Resource Information, Technical specification Version 1.5, 2005; www.aris.esiro.au. Bhattacharya, T., Sarkar, D., Pal, D.K., Mandal, C., Baruah, U., Telpande, B. and Vaidaya, P.H., Soil information system for resource management-Tripura as a case study. Curr. Sci., 2010, 99, 1208-1217.
Literature cited 2: Pal D.K., Bhattacharya, T., Srivastava, P., Chandran, P. and Ray, S.K., Soils of the Indo-Gangetic Plains: their historical perspective and management. Curr. Sci., 2009, 9, 1193-1201. Wani, S.P. et al., Combating drought through integrated water-shed management for sustainable dryland agriculture. In Regional Workshop on Agricultural Drought Monitoring and Assessment using Space Technology, National Remote Sensing Agency, Hyderabad, 4 May 2004, pp.39-48.

ID: 59713
Title: Natural resources of the Indo-Gangetic Plains: a land- use planning perspective.
Author: N.G.Patil, P. Tiwary, T. Bhattacharya, P.Chandran, D. Sarkar, D. K. Pal, D.K. Mandal, J. Prasad, G.S. Sidhu, K.M. Nair, A.K. Sahoo, T.H. Das, R.S. Singh, C. Mandal, R.Srivastava, T.K. Sen, S. Chatterji, S.K. Ray, G.P. Obireddy, S.K.Mahapatra, K.S. An
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (9) 1537-1549 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Agricultural productivity, land use planning, natural resources, soil properties and soil management.
Abstract: Current status of land/soil resources of the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) is analysed to highlight the issues that need to be tackled in near future for sustained agricultural variations in soil properties, cropping systems; status of land usage, groundwater utilization and irrigation development which vary across the sub-regions besides demographies. Framework for land use policy is suggested that includes acquisition of farm-level data, detailing capability of each unit to support a chosen land use, assess infrastructural support required to meet the projected challenges and finally develop skilled manpower to effectively monitor the dynamics of land use changes.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Pal, D.K., Bhattacharya, T., Srivastava, P., Chandran, P. and Ray, S.K., Soils of the Indo-Gangetic Plains: their historical perspective and management. Cur, Sci., 2009, 96, 1193-1202. Olaf, E., Resource scarcity gradients in the post-Green Revolution Indo-Gangetic Plains: implications for agricultural technology use and supply. In paper presented at the International Association of Agricultural Economists Conference, Beijing, China, 16-22.
Literature cited 2: Paroda, R.S., Woodhead, T. and Singh, R.B., Sustainability of Rice-Wheat Production Systems in Asia, RAPA Publication, 1994/11, FAO, Bangkok. http://www.rightsandresources.org (accessed February 2014).

ID: 59712
Title: Revisiting agro-ecological sub-regions of India-a case study of two major food production zones.
Author: C. Mandal, D.K. Mandal, T. Bhattacharya, D. Sarkar, D. K. Pal, Jagdish Prasad, G.S. Sidhu, K.M. Nair, A.K. Sahoo, T.H. Das, R.S. Singh, R.Srivastava, T.K. Sen, S. Chatterji, P.Chandran, S.K. Ray, N.G. Patil, G.P. Obireddy, S.K.Mahapatra, K.S. Anil Ku
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (9) 1502-1511 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Agro-ecological sub-regions, food production zones, land-use planning, length of growing period.
Abstract: The sustenance of food and nutritional security are the major challenges of the 21st century. The domestic food production needs to increase per annum at the rate of 2% for cereals and 0.6 % for oilseeds and pulses to meet the demand by 2030. The Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) and the black soil regions (BSR) are the two major food production zones of the country. Since irrigation potential is limited and expansion of irrigated area is tardy, rainfed agriculture holds promise to satisfy future food needs. Frontline demonstrations of these two regions have shown that there is a large gap at the farmers ' and achievable levels of yields. This gap can be filled by adopting scientific approach of managing the natural resources. There is tremendous pressure of biotic and abiotic stresses hindering the crop production and that warrants for a systematic appraisal of natural resources. The National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS & LUP) under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) divided the country into 60 agro-ecological sub-regions (AESRs) in 1994 by superimposing maps on natural resources like soils, climate and length of growing period (LGP) for crops and other associated parameters. With the passage of nearly two decades and the advent of modern facilities of database management and improved knowledge base on natural resources, a need was felt to revise the existing AESR map to reach near the ground reality of crop performance. The new database stored in soil and terrain digital database (SOTER) has helped in modifying the AESR delineations of the BSR (76.4 m ha) and the IGP (52.01 m ha). The estimated available water content, saturated hydraulic conductivity and use of pedo-transfer functions in assessing the drainage conditions and soil quality have helped in computing with improved precision the LGP, and revise the earlier AESRs in BSR and IGP areas. This innovative exercise will be useful for the future AESR-based agricultural land use planning.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Venkateswarlu, B. and Prasad, J.V.N.S., Carrying capacity o Indian agricultural issues related to rainfed agriculture. Curr.Sci., 2012, 102, 882-888. http:// www.fao.org/AG/agL/aglw/aquastat/main/index.stm
Literature cited 2: Pal, D.K., Mandal, D.K., Bhattacharyya, T., Mandal, C. and Sarkar, D., Revisiting the agro-ecological zones for crop evaluation. Indian J. Genet., 2009, 69, 315-318 Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Planning for sustainable use of land resources: towards a new approach. FAO Land and Water Bulletin No.2, Land and Water Development Division, FAO, Rome, 1995.

ID: 59711
Title: Land evaluation for major crops in the Indo-Gangetic Plains and black soil regions using fuzzy model.
Author: S. Chatterji, P. Tiwary, T.K. Sen, J. Prasad, T. Bhattacharya, D. Sarkar, D. K. Pal, D.K. Mandal, G.S. Sidhu, K.M. Nair, A.K. Sahoo, T.H. Das, R.S. Singh, C. Mandal, R.Srivastava, P.Chandran, S.K. Ray, N.G. Patil, G.P. Obireddy, S.K.Mahapatra, S.Srin
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (9) 1487-1501 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Benchmark sites, fuzzy model, land evaluation, minimum datasets.
Abstract: Land evaluation is carried out to assess the suitability of land for a specific use. Land evaluation procedures focus increasingly on the use of quantitative procedures to enhance the qualitative interpretation of land resource surveys. Conventional Boolean retrieval of soil survey data and logical models for assessing land suitability, treat both spatial units and attribute value ranges as exactly specifiable quantities. They ignore the continuous nature of soil and landscape variation and uncertainties in measurement, which may result in the failure to correctly classify sites that just fail to match strictly defined requirements. The objective of this article is to apply fuzzy model to land suitability evaluation for major crops in the 15 benchmark sites of the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) and 17 benchmark sites of the black soil regions (BSR). Minimum datasets of land characteristics considered relevant to rice and wheat in the IGP and cotton and soybean in the BSR were identified to enhance pragmatic value of land evaluation. The use of fuzzy model is intuitive, robust and helpful for land suitability evaluation and classification, especially in applications in which subtle differences in land characteristics are of a major interest, such as development of threshold values of land characteristics.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Rossiter, D.G., A theoretical framework for land evaluation. Geoderma, 1996, 72, 165-202. FAO, A framework for land evaluation.FAO Soils Bulletin No. 32. Rome, p. 72. Also published as Publication 22, ILRI, Wageningen, the Netherlands, 1976, p. 87.
Literature cited 2: Sys, C., Land evaluation. State University of Ghent, The Netherlands, 1976. Borrough, P.A., Fuzzy mathematical methods for soil survey and land evaluation. J. Soil Sci., 1989, 40, 477-492.

ID: 59710
Title: Impact of management levels and land-use changes on soil properties in rice-wheat cropping system of the Indo-Gangetic Plains.
Author: G.S. Sidhu, T. Bhattacharya, D. Sarkar, S.K. Ray, P. Chandaran, D.K. Pal, D.K Mandal, J. Prasad, K.M. Nair, A.K. Sahoo, T.H. Das, R.S. Singh, C.Mandal, R. Srivastava, T.K. Sen, S. Chatterjee, N.G. Patil, G.P. Obiredy, S.K., Mahapatra, K.S. Anil Kumar
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (9) 1470-1486 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Benchmark soil, bulk density, land-use changes, rice-wheat system, soil properties.
Abstract: Five benchmark soils, namely Fatehpur (Punjab) and Haldi (Uttatakhand) non-sodic soils, Zarifa Viran (Haryana) Sakit and Itwa sodic soils (Uttar Pradesh) representing Trans, Upper, Middle and Central Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) were revisited for studying the morphological, physical and chemical properties of soils at low and high management levels to monitor changes in soil properties due to the impact of land-use as well as management levels. The results indicate an increase in bulk density (BD) below the plough layer, and build up of organic carbon (OC) and decline in pH in surface layers of Zarifa Viran, Sakit and Itwa sodic soils under high management. The concentration of carbonates and biocarbonates in sodic soils decreased due to adaptation of rice-wheat system. The build-up of OC and decrease of pH in surface soils under rice-wheat system enhanced the soil health. Increase in BD in subsurface soils, however, is a cause of concern for sustaining rice-wheat cropping system. Soil management interventions such as tillage, conservation agriculture and alternate cropping system have been suggested for improved soil health and productivity.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Singh, J. and Sidhu, R.S., Accounting for impact of environmental degradation in agriculture of India, Punjab. Agric. Econ. Res. Rev., 2006, 19, 37-48. Sinha, S.K., Singh, G.B. and Rai, M., Decline in Crop Productivity in Haryana and Punjab: Myth or reality? Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, 1998.
Literature cited 2: Bhattacharyya, T., Chandran, P., Ray, S.K., Pal, D.K., Venugopalan, M.V., Mandal, C.and Wani, S.P., Changes in levels of carbon in soils over years of two important food production zones of India. Curr.Sci., 2007, 93, 1854-1863. Pathak, H., Mohanty, S., Jain, N. and Bhatia, A., Nitrogen, Phosphorus and potassium budgets in Indian agriculture. Nutr. Cycling Agroecosyst., 2010, 86, 287-299.

ID: 59709
Title: Soil and land quality indicators of the Indo-Gangetic Plains of India.
Author: S.K. Ray, T. Bhattacharya, K.R. Reddy, D.K. Pal. Chandaran, P.Tiwary, D.K Mandal, C.Mandal, J. Prasad, D. Sarkar, M.V., Venugopalan, K., K. Velmourougane, G.S. Sidhu, K.M. Nair, A.K. Sahoo, T.H. Das, R.S. Singh, R. Srivastava, T.K. Sen, S. Chatterjee
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (9) 1464-1469 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Land Quality index, Principal component analysis, soil quality and health.
Abstract: Sustaining soil and land quality under intensive land use and fast economic development is a major challenge for improving crop productivity in the developing world. Assessment of soil and land quality indicators is necessary to evaluate the degradation status and changing trends of different land use and management interventions. During the last four decades, the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) which covers an area of about 52.01 m ha has been the major food producing region of the country. However at present, the yield of crops in IGP has stagnated; one of the major reasons being deterioration of soil and land quality. The present article deals with the estimation of soil and land quality indicators of IGP, so that, proper soil and land management measures can be taken up to restore and improve the soil health. Use of principal component analysis is detailed to derive the minimum dataset or indicators for soil quality. The article also describes spatial distribution of soil and land quality with respect to major crops of IGP.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Andrews, S.S. and Carroll, C.R., Designing a tool for sustainable agroecosystem management: soil quality assessment of a poultry litter management case study. Ecol. Appl., 2001, 11, 1573-1585; Doi: 10/1890/1051-0761 (2001) /011 (1573 DASQAT/2.0.CO:2. Doran, J. W. and Parkin, T.B., Defining and assessing soil quality. In Defining Soil Quality for a Sustainable Environment (eds Doran, J. W. et al.), SSSA Spec. Publ. No. 35, SSSA, Madison, WI, USA, 1994, pp, 3-21.
Literature cited 2: Doran, J.W. and Parkin, T.B., Quantitative indicators of soil quality: a minimum data set. In Methods for Assessing Soil Quality: a minimum data set. In Methods for Assessing Soil Quality (eds Doran, J.W. and Jones, A.J), SSSA Spec.Publ. No. 49, SSSA, Madison, WI, USA, 1996, pp. 25-37. Doran, J.W., Sarrantonio, M. and Liebig, M., Soil health and sustainability. In Adv. Agron (ed. Sparks, D.L), Academic Press, San Diego, 1996, vol. 56, pp. 1-54.

ID: 59708
Title: Impacts of agro-climates and land use systems on culturable microbial population in soils of the Indo-Gangetic Plains, India.
Author: Alok Kumar Srivastava, Kulandaivelu Velmourougane, T. Bhattacharya, D. Sarkar, D.K. Pal, J. Prasad, G.S. Sidhu, K.M. Nair, A.K. Sahoo, T.H. Das, R.S. Singh, R. Srivastava, T.K. Sen, S. Chatterjee, P.Chandran, S.K. Ray, N.G. Patil, G.P. Obireddy, S.K.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (9) 1464-1469 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Agro-ecosystems, microbial population, land use type, soil depth.
Abstract: Comprehensive reports on land-use changes and their impact on soil biological properties, specifically microbial population in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) of India, are lacking. Since IGP is the most fertile land, data on microbial population of IGP may contribute towards the evaluation of various soil quality parameters, disease suppression, organic matter decomposition, plant growth promotion and soil management pattern. To enhance our knowledge on culturable microbial populations in different soil horizons of the agro-ecological sub-regions (AESRs) in the IGP, a study has been undertaken to collect soil samples from the established benchmark (BM) spots of these plains with an objective to investigate the impacts of bioclimates, soil depth, cropping systems, land use systems and management practices on the distribution of culturable microbial population. Bacterial: fungal ratios are significantly different across the land use types. The bacterial and fungal populations are strongly and negatively correlated with soil depth and maximum microbial population (40 %) exists in the surface horizon (0-30 cm) than in the subsurface horizon (121-150 cm). Generally, bacterial populations are higher than actinomycetes and fungal populations in all soil profiles of the IGP. Approximately 10 % decrease in Shannon diversity index has been observed with increase of 30 cm depth and 89 % fall between surface and subsurface profiles. Non-significant difference in microbial population (P< 0.05) is noticed across the management and land use systems. Sub-humid (moist) bioclimatic system recorded higher microbial population than sub-humid (dry) and semi-arid bioclimatic systems. Legume-based cropping system has higher microbial population than cereal or vegetable-based cropping.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Bell, C.N., McIntyre, S., Cox, D. and Tissue, J. Z., Soil microbial responses to t4emporal variations of moisture and temperature in a Chihuahuan Desert grassland. Microbiol Ecol, 2008, 56, 153-167. Bhattacharya, T. et al., Morphological properties of red and black soils of selected benchmark spots in semi-arid tropics, India. Global theme on agroecosystems report no. 21. International Crops Research Institute for the semi-arid Tropics and Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, Patancheru, 2006, p. 100.
Literature cited 2: Velayutham, M., Mandal, D.K., Mandal, C. and Sehgal, J., Agroecological subregion of India for planning and development. NBSS Publication No. 35. NBSS & LUP, Nagpur, 1999,p. 372. Mandal, C. et al., Revisiting agro-ecological sub-regions of India-a case study of two major food production zones. Curr. Sci., 2014, 107 (9), 1519-1536.

ID: 59707
Title: Impacts of bioclimates, cropping systems, land use and management on the cultural microbial population in black soil regions of India.
Author: K. Velmourougane, M.V. Venugopalan, T. Bhattacharya, D. Sarkar, S.K. Ray, P. Chandran, D.K Pal, D.K. Mandal, J. Prasad, G.S. Sidhu, K.M. Nair, A.K. Sahoo, K.S. Anil Kumar, A. Srivastava, T.H. Das, R.S. Singh, C. Mandal, R. Srivastava, T.K. Sen, S. Ch
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (9) 1452-1463 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Agro-ecological sub-regions, bench spots, black soil regions, principal component analysis, soil microbial population.
Abstract: The present study documents the biological properties of the black soil region (BSR) of India in terms of culturable microbial population. Besides surface microbial population, subsurface population of individual soil horizons is described to improve the soil information system. An effort has been made to study the depth-wise distribution and factors (bioclimates, cropping systems, land use management practices and soil practices) influencing the microbial population in the soils of the selected benchmark spots representing different agro-ecological sub-regions of BSR. The microbial population declined with depth and maximum activity was recorded within 0-30 cm soil de3pth. The average microbial population (log10 cfu g-1) in different bioclimates is in decreasing order of SHm> SHd> Sad>arid. Within cropping systems, legume-based recorded higher microbial population (6.12 log10 cfu g-1) followed by cereal- based system (6.09 log10 cfu g-1 ). The mean microbial population in different cropping systems in decreasing order is legume> cereal> sugarcane> cotton. Significantly higher (P<0.05) microbial population has been recorded in high management (6.20 log10 cfu g-1) and irrigated agrosystems (6.33 log10 cfu g-1) compared to low management (6.12 log10 cfu g-1) and rainfed agrosystems (6.17 log10 cfu g-1). The pooled analysis of data inclusive of bioclimates, cropping systems, land use, management practices, and edaphic factors indicates that microbial population is positively influenced by clay, fine clay, water cont3ntr, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, cation exchange capacity and base saturation, whereas bulk density, pH, calcium carbonate and exchangeable magnesium percentage have a negative effect on the microbial population.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Sharma, S.K. et al. Microbial community structure and diversity as indicators for evaluating soil quality. In Biodiversity, Biofuels, Agroforestry and Conservation Agriculture Reviews 5 (ed. Liccht-fouse, E), 2011, CRC Press, PP. 317-358. Kennedy, A.C., Microbial diversity in agroecosystem quality. In Biodiversity in Agroecosystems (eds Collins, W.W. and Qualset, C.O), CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, USA, 1999, pp. 1-17.
Literature cited 2: Kuramae, E.E., Yergeau, E., Wong, L.C., Pij, A.S., van Veen, J.A. and Kowalchuk, G.A., Soil characteristics more strongly influence soil bacterial communities than land-use type. FEMS Microbiol. Ecol., 2012, 79, 12-24. Hansel, C.M., Fendorf, S., Jardine, P.M. and Francis, C.A., Changes in bacterial and archael community structure and functional diversity along a geochemically variable soil profile.Appl.Environ.Microbiol., 2008, 74, 1620-1633.

ID: 59706
Title: Soil physical quality of the Indo-Gangetic Plains and black soil region.
Author: Mausumi Raychaudhuri, D.K. Kundu, Ashwani kumar, K.G. Mandal, S. Raychaudhari, G. Kar, T. Bhattacharya, D. Sarkar, D.K Pal, D.K. Mandal, J. Prasad, G.S. Sidhu, K.M. Nair, A.K. Sahoo, T.H. Das, R.S. Singh, C. Mandal, R. Srivastava, T.K. Sen, S. Chatte
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (9) 1440-1451 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Index, management, saturated hydraulic conductivity, soil physical quality.
Abstract: Understanding the physical quality of soil that influences its hydraulic behaviour helps in formulating appropriate water management strategies for sustainable crop production. Saturated hydraulic conductivity (KS) is a key factor governing the hydraulic properties of soils. KS can be estimated through various techniques. In the present article we have developed and validated the regression models to predict KS of the BSR soils, organic carbon was found useful for the IGP soils. Moreover, the models for KS of both soils were strengthened by putting in CaCO3 and exchangeable sodium percentage content. It seems there is ample scope to study the interaction process for revising KS to desired levels through management practices in these two important food-growing zones. An index of soil physical quality, derived from the inflection points of the soil moisture characteristic curves could well explain the impact of management practices on soil physical quality.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Ammozegar, A. AND Warrick, A. W., Hydraulic conductivity of saturated soils: field methods, In Methods of Soil Analysis. Part 1. Physical and Mineralogical Methods (e.d. Klute, A.) SSSA Book Series: 5 (formerly Agronomy Monograph 9), Madison, Wisconsin, USA, 1986, pp. 735-768. Klute, A. and Darksen, C., Hydraulic conductivity and diffusivity: laboratory methods. In Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 1: Physical and Mineralogical Methods (ed. Klute, A.), Agronomy Monograph No.9.American Society of Agronomy, Madison, WI, 1986, 2nd edn, pp. 687-734.
Literature cited 2: Mualem, Y. and Degan, G., Hydraulic conductivity of soils: unified approach to the statistical models. Soil Sci. Soc. Am .J., 1978, 42, 392-339. Goncalves, M.C., Pereira, L.S. and Leij, F.J., Pedo-transfer functions for estimating unsaturated hydraulic properties of Portuguese soils. Eur. J. Soil Sci., 1997, 48, 387-400.

ID: 59705
Title: Pedotransfer functions: a tool estimating hydraulic properties of two major soil types of India.
Author: P. Tiwary, N.G. Patil, T. Bhattacharya, P. Chandran, S.K. Ray, K. Karthikeyan, D. Sarkar, D.K Pal, J. Prasad, C. Mandal, D.K. Mandal, G.S. Sidhu, K.M. Nair, A.K. Sahoo, T.H. Das, R.S. Singh, R. Srivastava, T.K. Sen, S. Chatterji, G.P. Obireddy, S.K.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (9) 1431-1439 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Model efficiency, pedotransfer functions, regression analysis, saturated hydraulic conductivity, water retention.
Abstract: In recent years, georeferenced soil information system has gained significance in agricultural land-use planning and monitoring the changes in soil properties/ soil quality induced by land-use changes. The spatio-temporal information on saturated hydraulic conductivity (sHC) and soil water retention-release behavior is essential for proper crop and land-use planning. The sHC greatly influences the drainage process and soil water retention-release behaviour, ultimately affecting the crop growth and yield. However, sHC and water retention are not measured in a routine soil survey and are generally estimated from easily measurable soil parameters through pedotransfer functions (PTFs). In the present study, PTFs for sHC and water retention were developed separately for the soils of two food-growing zones of India (the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) and the black soil region (BSR). For the IGP soils, sHC is affected by the increased subsoil bulk density due to intensive cultivation. In BSR, presence of Na+ and Mg++ ions affects the drainage and water retention of the soils. Therefore, these soil parameters were considered while developing the PTFs using stepwise regression technique in SPSS. The validation of PTFs was found to be satisfactory with low RMSE values and high model efficiency.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Pal, D.K., Bhattacharya, T., Ray, S.K. and Bhuse, S.R., Developing a model on the formation and resilience of naturally degraded black soils of the peninsular India as a decision support system for better land use planning. NRDMS, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, Project Report, NBSSL-UP (ICAR), Nagpur, 2003, p. 144. Kadu, P.R., Pal, D.K. and Deshpande, S.B., Effect of low exchangeable sodium on hydraulic conductivity and drainage in shrink-swell soils of Purna valley, Maharashtra. Clay Res., 1993, 12, 65-70.
Literature cited 2: Balpande, S.S, Deshpande, S.B. and Pal, D.K., Factors and processes of soil degradation in Vertisols of the Purna valley, Maharashtra,India.Land Degrad.Dev., 1996, 7, 313-324. Kadu, P.R., Vaidya, P.H., Balpande, S.S., Satyavathi, P.L.A. and Pal, D.K., Use of hydraulic conductivity to evaluate the suitability of Vertisols for deep-rooted crops in semi-arid parts of central India. Soil Use Manag., 2003, 19, 208-216.

ID: 59704
Title: Development of soil and terrain digital database for major food-growing regions of India for resource planning.
Author: P. Chandran, P. Tiwary, T. Bhattacharya, C. Mandal, J. Prasad, S.K. Ray, D. Sarkar, D.K Pal, D.K. Mandal, G.S. Sidhu, K.M. Nair, A.K. Sahoo, T.H. Das, R.S. Singh, R. Srivastava, T.K. Sen, S. Chatterji, N.G. Patil, G.P. Obireddy, S.K. Mahapatra, K.S.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (9) 1420-1430 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Black soil region, database, Indo-Gangetic Plains, SOTER.
Abstract: Soil information system in SOTER (soil and terrain digital database) framework is developed for the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) and black soil regions (BSR) of India with the help of information from 842 georeferenced soil profiles including morphological, physical and chemical properties of soils in addition to the site characteristics and climatic information. The database has information from 82 climatic stations that can be linked with the other datasets. The information from this organized database can be easily retrieved for use and is compatible with the global database. The data-base can be updated with recent and relevant data as and when they are available. The database has many applications such as inputs for refinement of agro-ecological regions and sub-regions, studies on carbon sequestration, land evaluation and land (crop) planning, soil erosion, soil quality, carbon and crop modeling and other climate change related research. This warehouse of information in a structured framework can be used as a data bank for posterity.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Nachtergaele, F. and van Ranst, E., Qualitative and quantitative aspects of soil databases in tropical countries. In Evolution of Tropical Soil Science: Past and Future (ed. Stoops, G.) Koninkli-jke Academie voor oversee Wetenschappen, Brussel, 2002, pp. 107-126. Lagacherie, P. and McBratney, A.B., Spatial soil information system and spatial soil inference systems: perspectives for digital soil mapping. Digital Soil Mapping 2004 Montpellier, 13-17 September 2004, Elsevier, 2005.
Literature cited 2: Purnell, M.F., Soil survey information supply and demand: international policies and stimulation programmes. ITC J., 1993, 1, 30-35. Zinck, A. J., Introduction. Special Issue on Soil Survey Workshop, ITC J., 1993, 1, 2-7.

ID: 59703
Title: Georeferenced soil information system: assessment of database.
Author: T. Bhattacharya, D. Sarkar, S.K. Ray, P. Chandran, D.K. Pal, D.K. Mandal, J. Prasad, G.S. Sidhu, K.M. Nair, A.K. Sahoo, T.H. Das, R.S. Singh, C. Mandal, R. Srivastava, T.K. Sen, S. Chatterji, N.G. Patil, G.P. Obireddy, S.K. Mahapatra, K.S. Anil Kumar
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (9) 1400-1419 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Agriculture, Georeferenced soil information system, land-use planning, spatial database.
Abstract: Land-use planning is a decision-making process that facilitates the allocation of land to different uses that provide optimal and sustainable benefit. As land-use is shaped by society-nature interaction, in land-use planning different components/facets play a significant role involving soil, water, climate, animal (ruminant/non-ruminant) and others, including forestry and the environment needed for survival of mankind. At times these components are moderated by human interference. Thus land-use planning being a dynamic phenomenon is not guided by a single factor, but by a complex system working simultaneously, which largely affects the sustainability. To address such issues a National Agricultural Innovation Project (NAIP) on Georeferenced soil information system for land-use planning and monitoring soil and land quality for agriculture ' was undertaken to develop threshold values of land quality parameters for land-use planning through quantitative land evaluation and crop modeling for dominant cropping systems in major agro-ecological sub-regions (AESRs) repr3esenting rice-wheat cropping system in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) and deep-rooted crops in the black soil regions (BSR). To assess the impact of land-use change, threshold land quality indicator values are used. A modified AESR map for agricultural land-use planning is generated for effective land-use planning.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Bhattacharya, T. and Mandal, B., Soils information system of the Indo-gangetic Plains for resource management. ISSS special session on land use planning. J. Indian. Soc. Soil Sci., Platinum Jubilee Symposium-Proceedings, 2009, pp.1-19. www.naipgeosis.org.
Literature cited 2: Bhattacharya, T. et al., Estimation of carbon stocks in red and black soils of selected benchmark spots in semi-arid tropics of India. Global theme on agroecosystems report no. 28, ICRISAT, Patancheru and NBSS &LUP, Nagpur, 2006,p. 86. Bhattacharya, T. et al., Carbon sequestration in red and black soils.I. Influence of morphological properties. Agropedology, 2007, 17, 1-15

ID: 59702
Title: Integrated crop disease management in arid Rajasthan: a synthesis of indigenous knowledge with biocontrol.
Author: Arun Kumar
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (9) 1393-1399 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Arid zone crops, biocontrol, disease management, indigenous knowledge, Trichoderma spp.
Abstract: In a view of awareness toward nature-friendly management of plant diseases, the need of integration and use of indigenous knowledge (IK) with modern biological control measures has been emphasized. In view of new insights being generated it is accentuated to reassess the system of sustainable plant disease management. One farmer-inspirred indigenous practice of using raw cow milk as seed treatment has been experimentally validated integrating with Trichoderma spp. (the farmer-friendly fungus and biocontrol agent) at farmers ' fields and at C.R Farm of the Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur. The present article, besides documenting the success stories of validating biocontrol agents to manage plant diseases in arid Rajasthan, attempts to revive interest in IK and biocontrol emphasizing research needs to reassess the system of sustainable plant disease management.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Walters, D., Walsh, D., Newton, A. and Lyon, G., Induced resistance for plant disease control: maximizing the efficacy of resistance elicitors, Phytopathology, 2005, 95, 1368-1373. Arun-Kumar, Bhansali, R.R and Mali, P.C., Raw cow ' s milk and Gliocladium virens induced protection against downy mildew of pearl millet. Int. Sorghum Millet Newsl., 2004, 45, 64-65.
Literature cited 2: Sudisha, J., Arun-Kumar, Amruthesh, K.N., Niranjana, S.R. and Shetty, H.S., Elicitation of resistance and defense related enzymes by raw cow milk and amino acids in pearl millet against downy mildew disease caused by Sclerospora graminicola. Crop Prot., 2011, 30, 794-801. Arun-Kumar, Mali, P.C. and Manga, V.K., Changes of some phenolic compounds and enzyme activities on infected pearl millet caused by Sclerospora graminicola. Int. J. Plant Physiol. Bio-chem., 2010, 2, 6-10.

ID: 59701
Title: Assessing leopard occurrence in the plantation landscape of Valparai, Anamalai Hills.
Author: R.Navya, Vidya Athreya, Divya Mudappa, T.R. Shankar Raman.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (9) 1381-1385 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Assessing leopard occurrence, plantation landscape of Valparai, Anamalai Hills,
Abstract: Interaction between humans and large carnivorous mammals have a long history in Africa and Asia. Some adaptable carnivores with wide ranges occur in landscapes with humans and their increasing interface with people sometimes results in conflicts. Encounters between carnivores and people that lead to economic losses due to livestock depradation or injuries/deaths of humans and wildlife may result in negative attitude towards wild carnivores and hinder management and conservation efforts.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Treves, A. and Naughton-Treves, L., J. Hum. Evol., 1999, 36, 275-282. Mathpal, Y., Prehistoric Rock Paintings of Bhimbetka, Central India, Abhinav Publications, New Delhi, 1984.
Literature cited 2: Madhusudan, M.D., and Mishra, C., In Battles over Nature: Science and the Politics of Conservation (eds Saberwal, V. and Rangarajan, M.), Permanent Black, New Delhi, 2003, pp.31-55. Treves, A. and Karanth, K.U., Conserv. Biol., 2003, 17, 1489-1490.