Enter records

ID: 59677
Title: Operationalizing the concept of farming system for nutrition through the promotion of nutrition-sensitive agriculture.
Author: S. Nagarajan, R.V. Bhavani and M.S.Swaminathan
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (6) 959-964 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Community nutrition garden, Farming system for nutrition, nutritional security, nutrition-sensitive agriculture.
Abstract: Despite impressive gain in agricultural production and greater availability of food, a large population in India is suffering from nutritional imbalance. Improvements in total agricultural production leading to nutritive food would help combat under nutrition. To demonstrate the feasibility of agriculture-based remedy to malnutrition, five villages in Wardha district of Maharashtra were selected for validating the farming system for nutrition (FSN) approach. On-farm demonstrations of arable crops and women-managed community nutrition gardens (CNGs) of vegetables and fruits were initiated. A wide choice of nutritive vegetables to be grown was promoted to reduce the off-farm transport cost and ensure higher availability of nutritive vegetables to the households. The additional nutritional gain through FSN can be quantified in terms of equivalence and can be calibrated to ensure that the households get the recommended daily intake of nutrition. Accordingly, a FSN approach is evolved to provide nutritional security to every house-hold.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Mesham, A.R. and Chatterje, M., Wasting Away: The Crisis of Malnutrition in India, World Bank, Washington DC, 1999. Gulati, A., Ganesh-Kumar, A., Shreedhar, G. and Nandakumar, T., Agriculture and malnutrition in India. Econ. Polit. Wkly, 2012, 33, 74-86.
Literature cited 2: Swaminathan, M.S., Combating hunger. Science, 2012, 338, 1009. Kareemulla, K., Ramasundaram, P., Kumar, S. and Rao, C.A.R., Impact of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in India on rural poverty and food security. Curr.Agric.Res. J., 2013, 1, 13-28.

ID: 59676
Title: India ' s river linking project: will it benefit or backfire?
Author: Govindasamy Agoramoorthy
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (6) 951-955 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: India ' s river, project, benefit, backfire.
Abstract: Rivers are considered holy in India and the river Ganges is the most revered of all. The Government of India has decided to pursue a monumental engineering project to build a lengthy network of canals reaching up to 15,000 km for linking major rivers across India. This innovative river link is expected to transport 174 billion cubic meters of water annually, from water-rich rivers to water-scarce regions. Although the national river linking project has been talked about for many years, the central Government has finally decided to spend USD 168 billion to jump start this unique mission. The newly elected Prime Minister has called this undertaking ' a national dream. '
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Bhargava, D.S., Environ, Conserv, 1987, 14, 307-318. Bagla, P., Science, 2014, 345 (6193), 128.
Literature cited 2: Morrison, K.D., Conserv, Soc, 1987, 8, 182-195. Nehru, J., Nehru Speeches on Science and Society, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, Delhi, 1988.

ID: 59675
Title: Yar tsa Gunbu (Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Berk) G.H. Sung et al]: the issue of its sustainability.
Author: Chandra S. Negi, Mukesh Pant, Paras Joshi and Sachin Bohra.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (5) 882-887 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Cordyceps sinensis, economy, harvest pressure, sustainability, traditional belief system.
Abstract: Any source of immense value and key relevance to rural livelihood as the main cash source, invariably runs the risk of being overexploited, more so when it remains a common property resource. The current harvest pressure on caterpillar fungus, yar tsa Gunbu (Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Berk) G.H. sung et al) serves, as a prime example. The ever-increasing demand for the commodity in the international markets and concomitantly its ever-increasing price, hovering at present at US$20,000 per kg, have resulted in not just its rampant exploitation ,but also in the degradation of the very habitat ,thus endangering its future. The present study conducted across nine broad landscapes in 110 villages and 2511 harvesters within pithoragarh district, central Himalaya , high lights the socio-economic changes brought forth by the harvesting of the ' green gold ' and discusses the prospects of future availability of the species. The study also provides suggestions for evolving sound mechanisms to lessen the pressure on the species.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Berkeley, M. J., on some entomogenous sphaeriae.London J. Bot., 1843, 2, 205-211. Saccardo, P.A., Enumeratio pyrenomycetum hypocraeceorum hucusque congitorum systemate carpologico dispositorum.Michelia, 1878, 1, 277-325.
Literature cited 2: Sung, G.H., hywel -Jones, N.L., Sung, J.M., Luangsa -ard, J.J., Shreshta, B. and the Clavicipitaceous fungi. Stud.Mycol. 2007, 57, 5-59 Li, S.P., Li, P. Dong, T.T. and Tsim, K. W., Anti-oxidation activity of different types of natural cordyceps sinensis and cultured cordyceps mycelia .Phytomedicine, 2001, 8(3), 207-212.

ID: 59674
Title: Mineralogy of Kaolin clays in different forest ecosystems of southern Western Ghats, India.
Author: S. Sandeep and M.P. Sujatha.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (5) 875-882 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Forest ecosystems, halloysite, kaolinite, Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction.
Abstract: Random x-ray poder diffraction (XRD and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to identify 1:1 clay minerals in soils of five different forest ecosystems such as moist deciduous forests, evergreen forests, shoal forests, grasslands and scrub jungles in the southern Western Ghats, India. The study sites experience a humid tropical climate with intense leaching and weathering, except scrub jungle which lies in the rain shadow area of the Western Ghats.XRD analyses of air-dried samples, confirmatory tests using formamide intercalation and SEM could establish kaolinite -halloysite coexistence in clay fractions of three different ecosystems of the Western Ghats. Earlier studies on clay mineralogy in the region failed to establish such coexistence because of the relative metastable nature of halloysite with respect to kaolinite.The identification of soil systems with metastable minerals liks halloysite presents interesting possibilities of further studies vis-?-vis soil genesis and management in the tropics.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Brindley, G.W., Souza Santos. and Souza Santos, H., Mineralogical studies of kaolinite -halloynite clays.1. Identification problems. Am. Mineral., 1963, 48, 897-910. Keller, W.D.Environmental aspects of clay minerals.J. Sediment.Petrol. 1970, 40,788-813.
Literature cited 2: Romero. Robert, M., Elsass, F. and Garcia, C. Abundance of halloysite neoformation in soils developed from crystalline rocks. Contribution of transmission electron microscopy.Clay miner. 1992, 27, 35-46. Jeong, G. Y., The dependence of localized crystallization of haloysite and kaolinite on primary minerals in the weathering profile of granite .Clays Clay Miner., 2000, 48,196-203.

ID: 59673
Title: Assessment and monitoring of deforestation from 1930 to 2011 in Andhra Pradesh, India using remote sensing and collateral data.
Author: P. Harikrishna, K.R.L.Saranaya, C.sudhakar Reddy, C.S. Jha and V.K. Dadhwal.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (5) 867-875 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Collateral data, deforestation, landscape metrics, remote sensing.
Abstract: Deforestation is one of the greatest threats to the world ' s forest ecosystems. The present study has utilized remote sensing and GIS techniques to quantify changes in forest cover and to map patterns of deforestation in Andhra Pradesh, India during 1930-2011. Andhra Pradesh has the second largest recorded forest area and ranks sixth with an actual forest cover mps from seven temporal datasets were prepared based on interpretation of multi-source topographical maps from seven temporal datasets were prepared based on interpretation of multi-source topographical maps and satellite data. A representative set of landscape indices has been used to study landscape-level changes over time. The mapping for the period of 1930, 1960, 1975, 1985, 1995, 2005 and 2011 indicates that the forest cover accounts for 85,392, 68,063, 46,940, 45,520, 44,409, 43,577 and 43,523sq.km of the study area respectively. The study found thenet forest cover declined as 49% of the total forest area during the last eight decades. The annual rate of estimated deforestation during 2005-2011 was 0.02%.Annual rate of deforestation of teak mixed forests was relatively higher (0.76) followed by mangroves (0.58%), semi-evergreen forests(0.43%), dry deciduous forests(0.21%), moist deciduous forests(0.09%), dry evergreen forests (0.07%) during 1975-2011.The landscape analysis shows that the number of forest patches was 3,981 in 1930, 5,553 in 1960, 8,760 in 1975, 9,412 in 1985, 9,646 in 1995 and 10,597in 2011, which indicates ongoing anthropogenic pressure on the forests. The mean patch size (sq.km) of forest decreased from 21.5 in 1930 to 12.3 in 1960 and reached 3.9 by 2011. The analysis of historical forest cover changes provides a basis for management effectiveness and future research on various components of biodiversity, climate change and accounting of carbon.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Murali, K.S.and Hedge, R., Patterns of tropical deforestation. J.Trop.For. Sci., 1997, 9(4), 465-476 Myers, N., Mittermeier, R.A. and Mittermeier, C.G., Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities .Nature, 2000, 403,853-858.
Literature cited 2: Shukla, J., Nobre, C., Sellers., Amazon deforestation and climate change .Science, 1990,247, 1322-1325. Bishop, R., Economic efficiency, sustainability and biodiversity. Ambio, 1993, 22, 69-73.

ID: 59672
Title: Monitoring of Carbon dioxide and water vapour exchange over a young mixed forest plantation using eddy covariance technique.
Author: T. Watham, S.P.S. Kushwaha, N.R. Patel, and V.K. Dadhwal.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (5) 858-867 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Carbon dioxide, eddy covariance, mixed forest plantation, water vapour.
Abstract: Studies on Co2 and water vapour exchange in natural and man-made vegetation are necessary for quantifying their role in landscape-level carbon budget. The present study investigated variations in carbon and water vapour fluxes and monthly net ecosystem exchange (NEE) over a 9 -year -old mixed forest plantation(Holptelea integrifolia, Dalbergia sissoo, Acacia catechu and Albizia procera) in Terai Central Forest Division of Nainital district, Uttrakhand using January to September 2013 eddy covariance data .During leafless period (i.e. January ), the plantation acted as net carbon source (i.e. positive NEE) with daily mean release of 0.35g c m??day?1, while from leaf onset to growing period (i.e. April to September) it acted as a sink(i.e. negative NEE) due to carbon uptake by an increasing number of leaves. The monthly mean daily NEE was noticed to be increasingly more negative in each subsequent month until September. The diurnal trend in NEE closely followed the variations in the intensity of photosynthetically active radiation .The diurnal NEE in all months was related to vapour pressure (-29.5?mol m??s??) and night-time release of co2 (8.2?mol m??s??) was observed in July. Monthly mean of daily NEE over plantation continuously increased from February and was highest (-5.74 g c m??day??) in September. Rectangular hyperbolic function provided reasonably good fit between NEE and PAR. Ecosystem parameters (? and pmax) of the light response curve also followed the canopy development trend.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Schlesinger, W.H., Biogeochemistry: An Analysis of Global Change, Academic press, New York, 1991. Chhabra, A. and Dadhwal, V.K. Estimating terrestrial net primary productivity over India using satellite data.Curr.sci., 2004, 86(2), 269-271.
Literature cited 2: Calvo, E. and Jochem, E. (eds), IPCC special Report on carbon Dioxide capture and storage, Cambridge university press, Cambridge, 2005. Bachelet, D., Neilson, R.P., Lenihan, J.Mand Drapek, R.J., climate change effects on vegetation distribution and carbon budget in the United States. Ecosystems, 2001, 4, 164-185.

ID: 59671
Title: Space-based gravity data analysis for groundwater storage estimation in the Gangetic plain, India.
Author: S.Dasgupta, I.C.Das, S.K.Subramanian and V.K. Dadhwal.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (5) 832-844 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Groundwater storage change, Satellite missions, soil moisture, storage variables.
Abstract: Monthly, seasonal and annual hydrologic signals obtained by Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE mission) satellites are analysed and compared with storage variables of soil moisture signatures of Monsoon Asia Integrated Regional study (MAIRS) mission and groundwater level information of central Ground water Board , to observe depletion trends of groundwater in the Gangetic Plain, at regional scale . While the seasonal time-series showed seasonality in the groundwater storage change, the annual trends depict a decline in this region .Further, the results showed that ground water storage had declined at a rate 3.33 mm/month from 2005 to 2010. These time-series comparisons of storage variables have agreeable R? (coefficient of determination) and r (correlation coefficient) at various temporal cycles.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Wahr,J, SWENSONS, s. Zlotnicki,V.and Velicogna,I., Time-variable gravity from GRACE: first results ,Geophys,Res, Lett., 2004,31, L11 501;doi: 10.1029/2004GL01977. Swenson, S., Wahr, J., and Milly, P.C.D., Estimated accuracies of regional water storage variations inferred from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE).Wat.Resour.Res., 2003. 39, 1223-1236; doi: 10.1029/2002 WR 001808.
Literature cited 2: Famiglietti, J.S., Remote Sensing of terrestrial water storage, soil moisture and surface waters. In The State of the Planet: Frontiers and challenges in Geophysical Monograph, 150 IUGG, 2004, Vol.19, pp. 197-207 Rodell, M., Famiglietti, J.S., Terrestrial Water storage variations over Illinois: analysis of observations and implications for GRACE .Wat. Resour.Res. 2001, 37, 1327-1340.

ID: 59670
Title: Role of patents in Availability and affordability of tuberculosis care technologies.
Author: Tarakanta Jana and Siddhartha Dulakakhoria.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (5) 761-767 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Diagnostics, drug, patent, tuberculosis, vaccine.
Abstract: The present study deals with the role of patents in the availability and affordability of tuberculosis care technologies and identifies the underlying knowledge gaps and scientific obstacles in the development of tuberculosis care technologies.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Gold, R., Kaplan, W. and Orbinski, J., Are patents impending medical care and innovation? PLoS Med., 2002, 7(1), e 10000208. Goulding, R., Patent pools: Assessing their value added for global health innovation and access. Results for Development Institute, Washington, 2012; http://r4d.org/knowledge-center/patent-pools-assessing-their -value-addedd-global-health-innovation-and -access.
Literature cited 2: Blind, K. et al., study on the interplay between standards and intellectual property rights. Eindhoven university of Technology, Eindhoven; http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise /policies/european-standards/standardisation-policy /policy-activities/intellectual -property-rights/index_en.htm Serafino, D., Survey of patent pools demonstrates variety of purposes and management structures. Knowledge Ecology International Research note 2007, 6;http://keionline.org/misc-docs/ds-patentpools.pdf.

ID: 59669
Title: Assessment of endolichenic fungal diversity in some forests of Kumaun Himalaya.
Author: MANISH TRIPATHI, YOGESH JOSHI, RAMESH CHANDRA GUPTA.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (5) 745-748 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Endolichenic fungal, diversity, forests of Kumaun Himalaya.
Abstract: The statement of Hammer that ' Biodiversity studies depend upon biogeography and biogeography depends upon biodiversity ' , emphasizes that without insights into biogeographical patterns we cannot fully understand the evolution of species and without some knowledge of what grows where , our attempts at something as simple as identification may prove fruitless . Henceforth, if we accept Hawksworth ' s hypothesis that there are 1.5 million species of fungi known from the world of which only 100,000 are described ,then a question arises ' Where are all the undescribed Fungi? Hawk-sworth & Rossman identified three categories where we can find these undescribed species: (1) fungi in tropical forests, (2) fungi in unexplored habitats, and (3) lost or hidden species. The second category (fungi in unexplored habitats) includes hypogenous gungi in Australia, fungi in the guts of other beetles and insects, lichenicolous fungi and entophytic fungi.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Hammer, S., Diversity and Distributions, 2003, 9,487-488. Hawks worth, D.L., Mycol.Res. 1991, 95, 641-655
Literature cited 2: Hawks worth, D.L. and Rossman, A. Y., Phytopathology, 1997, 87,888-891. Sturz, A.V., Christie, B.R. and Nowak, J., crit. Rev.plant Sci., 2000, 19, 1-30.

ID: 59668
Title: Trichodesma Zeylanicum: an unusual pollination system with chasmogamous flowers and obligate auto gamy.
Author: K.R. SHIVANNA
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (5) 743-745 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Scientific correspondence, Trichodesma zeylanicum. Chasmogamus flowers obligate autogamy.
Abstract: Flowering plants show great variation in their mode of pollination .A small proportion of plants produces cleistogamous flowers. As they do not open, their pollination is exclusively autogamous (with pollen from the same flower); there is no possibility of geitonogamous (pollen from another flower of the same plant) or xenogamous (pollen from another plant) pollinations. A majority of flowering plants, however, produce chasmogamous (open) flowers and permit both self-and cross-pollination. Dioeciously and strictly self-incompatible species are obligately xenogamous (pollen has to come other plants) Most of the remaining Chasmogamous species show a mixed mating system in which both self-and outcrosss -pollen contributes to pollination success, although the extent of each varies greatly depending on the floral structure and the pollination environment.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Lord, E. M., Bot, Rev., 1981, 47,421-449 Richards, A.j., Plant Breeding systems, Allen and unwin, London, 1986.
Literature cited 2: Barrett, S.C. H., In Fifty Years of Invasion Ecology: The Legacy of Charles Elton (ed.Richardson, D.M), Blackwell publishing Ltd, Chichester, 2011pp.195-210. Goodwillie, C., Kalisz, S. and Eckert, C. G., Annu. Rev. Ecol. Evol. Syst., 2005, 36, 47-79.

ID: 59667
Title: Kachchh Mesozoic domes, Western India: study of morphotectono character and evolution.
Author: A.B. Roy, N.K. Chauhan and Alokesh 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 (4) 688-693 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Diapiric folds, domes, evolutionary history, magma bodies.
Abstract: Kachchh domes are recognized by the oval to elliptical -shaped outcrop patterns marked by outlines of bedding surfaces which invariably dip in the outward directions. The occurrence of domes in rows without having corresponding basin-like features implies that these are not superposed folds resulting due to constriction -type tectonic forces. Further, in spite of the close time-space relationship, the occurrence of domes is exclusively in the Mesozoic rocks on the uplifted block of the fault .The absence of any such rock formation on the other side of the fault rules out the possibility that these are ' drape folds ' developed during the adjustment of the sedimentary blanket over the faulted-up edges of the basement blocks. Hinging on the evidence of intrusive plutonic (mafic) masses in the core of some of the domes, we suggest that the structures evolved through diapiric rise of magma bodies causing dome-shaped up-warping (bending) of the pre-existing (Mesozoic) flat-lying sedimentary formations. Linear disposition of domes is explained as due to channelization of magma along the fractures that developed around large-scale crustal doming during the early phase of the Reunion Plume impingement under the Indian Lithosphere.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Wynne, A.B., Memoir on the geology of Kutch. Mem. Geol. Surv. India, 1872, Vol. 9, 1-294. Waagen, W., Jurassic fauna of Kutch.Palaeontologia Indica. Geological survey of India, 1875, 9(1), 247.
Literature cited 2: Spath, L.F. Revision of the Jurassic Cephalopod fauna of kachh (cutch). Palaeontologia Indica, Geological Survey of India, New series 9, Memoir, 1931, 2(4), 279-550. Rajnath, A contribution to the stratigraphy of cutch. Q.J. Geol., Mineral. Metall .Soc.India, 1932, 4(4), 161-174.

ID: 59666
Title: Paleoflood record of high-magnitude events during historical time in the Sabarmati River, Gujarat.
Author: Alpa Sridhar, L.S.Chamyal, Mansi Patel
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (4) 675-678 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Alluvial plains, flood events, monsoon, palaeofloods, slack water deposits.
Abstract: We report the occurrence of large floods in the Sabarmati River Basin during cal AD 1400-1440.Slackwater palaeoflood deposits have been preserved in the highly dissected ravines along the middle reaches of the River, wherein 5-6 discrete flood events have been identified. The minimum discharge that emplaced the highest deposit has been estimated as ~15,680 m?s?? and is higher than that recorded (3050m?s??) during the recent 2006 flood. The timing of these high-magnitude flood events in the Sabarmati and adjacent river basins suggests that extreme hydrological events have occurred in response to excess monsoon periods and are largely controlled by the regional climatic conditions. Moreover, these flood events are seen to be broadly synchronous in the alluvial river basins of Gujarat across climatic zones, but are at variance in pattern from the records of the bedrock peninsular rivers.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Baker, V.R., Paleoflood hydrology and extraordinary flood events. J.Hydrol. 1987, 96, 79-99. Ely, L.L.and Baker, V.R., Reconstructing palaeoflood hydrology with slack water deposits. Phys. Georg., 1985, 6,103-126.
Literature cited 2: Sridhar, A., Evidence of late medieval mega flood event in the alluvial reach of the Mahi River Basin, Gujarat.Curr.Sci, 2009, 96, 1517-1520. Kale, V.S., Mishra, S. and Baker, V.R., Sedimentary records of palaeofloods in the bedrock gorges of the Tapi and Narmada rivers, central India. Curr.sci, 2003, 84, 1072-1079.

ID: 59665
Title: Cost estimation of soil erosion and nutrient loss from a watershed of the Chotanagpur Plateau, India.
Author: Aastha Gulati and S.C. Rai.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (4) 670-674 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Agro forestry, land-use/land-cover, Macronutrients, Watershed.
Abstract: Soil erosion is a major threat to the sustainability of agriculture in mountain regions of the world. The present study was conducted to assess overland flow, soil and subsequent nutrient loss from different land-use / land-cover in a watershed of chotanagpur plateau.It was observed that overland flow was greatest in (15.84%). Soil loss from the field plots ranged between 9 and 37 tones/ha during the monsoon months. Nutrient leaching was highest in paddy fields. A strong positive correlation was observed between organic carbon and soil loss (p<0.01). On an average, 590 kg of macro-nutrients (N, Pand K) were lost per hectare during the monsoon season. Approximately INR 8893 ha?? (US $137ha??) would be required to replace this loss through inorganic fertilizers. Agricultural practices in mountain areas should be strengthened with more agro forestry components to promote conservation of soil, water and nutrients.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Lal, R. and Stewart, B.A., Soil Degradation, springer -Verlag, New York, 1990. Pimentel, D., World soil Erosion and conservation, Cambridge University press, Cambridge, UK, 1993.
Literature cited 2: Pimentel, D. et al., Environmental and economic cost of soil erosion and conservation benefits .Science, 1995, 267, 1117-1123. Pimentel, D. and Kounang, N., Ecology of soil erosion in ecosystems. Ecosystems, 1998, 1, 416-426.

ID: 59664
Title: Permissible soil loss limits for different physiographic regions of West Bengal.
Author: Narendra Kumar Lenka, D. Mandal and S.Sudhishri
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (4) 665-670 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Biophysical model, Physiographic regions, soil erosion, soil conservation planning.
Abstract: Land degradation due to water erosion is a major impediment for optimum land productivity in West Bengal (WB). Sustainable development of the state needs appropriate land-use planning taking into account the heterogeneity in soil and land resources. In this study, the maximum permissible soil loss rates (T values) were computed for 115 mapping units of WB by integrating the most sensitive soil indicators such as infiltration rate, bulk density, water stable aggregates, organic carbon and fertility status to assess soil quality governing soil resistibility to erosion. For each mapping unit, indicator soil attribute values were quantitavely expressed in the 0 to 1 scale and an aggregate score was computed from the attribute scores and the corresponding weights. Te results suggested a wide difference in the T values among the regions and mapping units, with values ranging from 2.5 to 12.5 Mg ha??yr??. In the state as a whole, about 88% of the area has ' T ' value of 12.5 Mg ha??yr??. The relatively plain lands in the Indo-Gangetic plain, coastal and delta plain and the Bengal basin have a higher soil loss tolerance of about 4.0 Mg ha??yr?? tan the hilly and undulating regions in the Eastern Himalaya and Eastern plateau regions.The information generated will serve as a useful guide for devising differential conservation and resource use plans on the basis of soil resource potential.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Maji, A.K. Obi Reddy, G.P. and Sarkar, D., Degraded and Wastelands of India- status and spatial Distribution (eds virmani, S.M., Prasad, R. and pathak, P.S.), Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, 2010. Haldar, A.K., Thampi, C.J. and Sehgal, J., Soils of West Bengal for optimizing land use.NBSS Publication 27b. Technical Bulletin, National Bureau of soil survey of Land Use Planning, Nagpur, 1992.
Literature cited 2: Wischmeir, W.H. and Smith, D.D., Predicting Rainfall Erosion Losses-A guide to conservation planning, Agriculture Handbook, USDA,Washington , DC,1978. McCormack, D.E., Young ,K.K. and Kimberlin , L.W., Current criteria for determining soil Loss Tolerance (eds Schmidt , B.L. et al.) special Publication No. 45, American society of Agronomy ,Madison ,Wisconsin,1982,pp.95-111.

ID: 59663
Title: Energy, economics, and water use efficiency of chichpea (Cicer arietinum L) cultivars in vertisols of semi -arid tropics, India.
Author: S.L. Patil, P.K. Mishra, N. Loganandhan, M.N.Rmesha and S.K.N. Math.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (4) 656-664 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Chickpea, cultivars, dry matter, economics, energy, water use efficiency.
Abstract: Pulses play a major role in providing overall prosperity to the small and marginal farmers through nutritional security by meeting their dietary protein requirements and improving production base through conservation of natural resources. Inclusion of pulses in the copping system as crop productivity of cereals and oil seeds. Chickpea is one of the important pulses cultivated in Vertisols during winter season. We examined chickpea cultivars for energy use efficiency, economics, physiological efficiency and water use efficiency (WUE) under different rainfall situations for their sustainable yield and overall profit, in Vertisols of semi-arid tropics of south India. Results revealed that low input energy and high grain and stover yields of cultivars result in higher total output energy and net benefit energy. Higher dry matter efficiency of 0.702 was observed with medium-duration cultivar followed by medium-duration cultivar. We conclude that medium-duration cultivar and short-duration cultivar are more suitable for the SAT region in terms of greater energy benefits, higher income per unit area, physiological efficiency and water use efficiency. Thus short-duration cultivar could be cultivated during normal to above normal rainfall years and during normal to drought years in winter season on residual soil moisture in vertisols medium -duration cultivar for higher energy efficiency and economics.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Dorward, A., Rethinking agricultural input subsidy programmes in a changing world. School of oriental and African studies, University of London, UK, 2009, P48. Grossman, N.and Dyland, C., Agriculture policy in India: the role of input subsidies. In USITC Executive Briefings on Trade, 2011;htpp://usitc.gov/publications/332/executive _briefings/EBOT_India Ag.subsidies.pdf.
Literature cited 2: Wiggins, S. and Brooks, J., The use of input subsidies in developing countries. In Global Forum on Agriculture Policies for Agricultural Development, Poverty Reduction and Food Security, OECD,Paris,29and 30 November 2010;http:// www.oecd.org/tad/agricultural -policies/46340359.pdf Spiertz, J.H.J., Nitrogen, sustainable agriculture and food security-a review .Agron.Sustain.Dev. 2010, 30, 43-55.