Enter records

ID: 64996
Title: Protected vegetable cultivation for climate resilience and nutritional security in Eastern Ladakh, India
Author: Sonam Spaldon, Anwar Hussain, Kunzes Angmo, M. S. Kanwar, Jigmet Laskit, Phunstog Tundup and Diskit Dolker
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (7) 737-742 (2023)
Subject: Protected vegetable cultivation for climate resilience and nutritional security in Eastern Ladakh, India
Keywords: Climate resilience, extreme climatic conditions, nutritional security, organic products, protected vegetable cultivation
Abstract: Eastern Ladakh, India, experiences a harsh climate with temperatures dropping below zero, thus restricting agricultural activities for a short period. Therefore, the inhabitants depend completely on dairy products, packed and processed foods. Traditional farming practiced in the study region is purely indigenous and, by default, organic in nature. Therefore, the region has the potential to produce organic products under protected structures, which will be a source of income generation. The present study was conducted through frontline demonstrations at three locations, viz. Nyoma, Mudh and Tsaga in Ladakh for two consecutive years from 2019 under protected structures, viz. local greenhouse and low tunnel. A comparison of productivity levels between demonstrated variety and local checks was also made. A significant outcome was that the farmers have learned to produce quality vegetables not just to increase their income but also for nutritional security. There is a positive attitude among the locals on the importance of protected cultivation as a self-sustainable technology, nutritionally secure, and uplifting socio-economic conditions with climate-resilient features that will be a boon for this region despite extreme climatic conditions
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Namgail, T., Bhatnagar, Y. V., Mishra, C. and Bagchi, S., Pastoral nomads of the Indian Changthang: production system, land use and socioeconomic changes. Hum. Ecol., 2007, 35, 497–504. Angmo, K., Kumar, Y., Kanwar, M. S., Spaldon, S., Yatoo, S. and Ahmad, M. S., Technological intervention in alfalfa to combat fodder scarcity in 2. Changthang Ladakh, India. Pharma Innov. J., 2021, 11(3), 878–882.
Literature cited 2: Angmo, K., Kanwar, M. S., Dar, R. A. and Rawat, S. G., Recent Changes in yak herding practices in Eastern Ladakh and implications for local livelihoods. In Yak on the Move: Transboundary Challenges and Opportunities for Yak Raising in a Changing Hindu Kush Himalayan Region (eds Ning, Wu et al.), International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Kathmandu, Nepal, 2016. Miehe, G., Miehe, S., Kaiser, K., Reudenbach, C., Behrendes, L. and Schlütz, F., How old is pastoralism in Tibet? An ecological approach to the making of a Tibetan landscape. Palaeogeogr., Palaeoclimatol., Palaeoecol., 2009, 276(1–4), 130–147.

ID: 64995
Title: A study on consumer awareness, perception and willingness to pay for biofortified products in Delhi, India
Author: M. L. Geetha, P. Venkatesh, Girish K. Jha, Dharam Raj Singh and V. Sangeetha
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (7) 728-736 (2023)
Subject: A study on consumer awareness, perception and willingness to pay for biofortified products in Delhi, India
Keywords: Biofortification, consumer awareness, malnutrition, perception, willingness to pay
Abstract: Malnutrition, which can perpetuate a cycle of poverty and ill health, will disproportionately impact people. Biofortification is an initiative to ensure improved nutritional outcomes in developing countries, where approaches to food supplements and commercially marketed fortified foods are limited. A primary survey was carried out in and around the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, India. A total of 134 respondents from urban and 123 respondents from rural areas were interviewed. The results revealed that the majority of respondents in urban areas (72%) presumed that biofortified products were higher in micronutrients than those in rural areas (49%). The findings reveal that age and gender negatively impact consumer awareness of biofortification, while education, food habits and income exert a positive and significant impact. The policy implications drawn should enable the development of consumer-based food products by creating a niche market and using an appropriate marketing channel to increase consumer acceptance and WTP.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: John, P., Tanzania recording steady progress against malnutrition. Online, 2009; http://216.69.164.44/ipp/guardian/2007/10/03/99636. html (accessed on 20 April 2010). WHO, WHO fact sheet on malnutrition, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, 2018.
Literature cited 2: Branca, F. and Ferrari, M., Impact of micronutrient deficiencies on growth: the stunting syndrome. Ann. Nutr. Metab., 2002, 46(Suppl. 1), 8–17. Ezzati, M., Vander Hoorn, S., Lopez, A. D., Danaei, G., Rodgers, A., Mathers, C. D. and Murray, C. J., Comparative quantification of mortality and burden of disease attributable to selected risk factors. Global Burden Dis. Risk Factors, 2006, 2, 241–396.

ID: 64994
Title: Localized eradication of mango stone weevil Sternochetus mangiferae (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in India
Author: Abraham verghese, M. A. rashmi, D. K. nagaraju, J. P. singh
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (7) 725-727 (2023)
Subject: Localized eradication of mango stone weevil Sternochetus mangiferae (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in India
Keywords: Localized eradication, mango stone weevil, Sternochetus mangiferae,Fabricius, Coleoptera, Curculionidae, India
Abstract: The mango stone (nut) weevil (Sternochetus mangiferae) is a monophagous pest of mango, Mangifera indica. It is found in almost all the mango-growing areas of the world, except Egypt, Italy, Israel and the Canary Islands . In India, it is found mainly in the south2 . The adults lay eggs on immature fruits of 2–4 cm diameter. The grubs that hatch bore into the core of the fruit and eventually get enveloped by the seed coat. The grubs pass through five instars and pupate within the seed. The adults that emerge from the seed burrow through the pulp and emerge through a hole in the rind3,4. During this process, they damage the pulp and contaminate it with their excreta, making it unfit for market, export and industry . The overall loss varies from 5% to 80% (ref. 5). Early infestation can also lead to fruit drop. The weevil is of quarantine significance in fresh fruit export.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: international Institute of Entomology (IIE), Distribution Maps of Plant Pests, CAB International, Wallingford, UK, 1995, Series A, No. 180 (3rd revision). Tandon, P. L. and Verghese, A., World List of Insect, Mite and other Pests of Mango, Technical Document No. 5, ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bangalore, 1985, p. 22.
Literature cited 2: Nagaraju, D. K., Ph.D. thesis, Kuvempu University, Karnataka, 2005. Woodruff, R. E. and Fasulo, T. R., July 2015; http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/fruit/beetles/mango_seed_weevil.htm (accessed on 6 July 2023)

ID: 64993
Title: Designation of Ranipur Wildlife Sanctuary as Tiger Reserve: steps towards landscape level biodiversity conservation
Author: Kanchan puri, Ritesh joshi
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (7) 723-725 (2023)
Subject: Designation of Ranipur Wildlife Sanctuary as Tiger Reserve: steps towards landscape level biodiversity conservation
Keywords: Designation of Ranipur Wildlife Sanctuary, Tiger Reserve, landscape level biodiversity conservation
Abstract: It is now widely acknowledged that landscape-level conservation is an important paradigm that addresses scaling up our conservation initiatives and actions, especially when the entire world, including wild species, faces the consequences of climate change, pollution and expanding linear infrastructure. Current conservation instruments, including the protected areas on which the species rely, are insufficient to halt biodiversity loss. Thus, conservation initiatives in the wider landscape surrounding protected areas are needed to achieve the impact required for reversing negative biodiversity trends1 . Landscape conservation facilitates bringing all the sectors and stakeholders in a single platform to collaborate their ideas on managing important biodiversity areas for long-term sustainability. As several ecological and evolutionary processes are associated with the management of an area, systematic conservation planning is needed to ensure sustainable developments of the area, including economic, cultural, social and economic developments. Over the last decade, Governments have been making efforts to consider the biodiversity-rich areas and management and conservation of species across the larger landscapes, not confining the conservation approaches to the protected habitats
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Kleijn, D. et al., In the Future of Agricultural Landscapes, Part I (Advances in Ecological Research), Elsevier, UK, 2020, pp. 127– 159; doi:10.1016/bs.aecr.2020.08.004. Jhala, Y. V., Qureshi, Q. and Nayak, A. K., Technical Report, National Tiger Conservation Authority, New Delhi and Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2020
Literature cited 2: Parveen, T. and Ilyas, O., Curr. Sci., 2021, 121(12), 1572–1583. Pawar, D. et al., CATnews, 2020, 71, 18–19.

ID: 64992
Title: Mangroves for sustainable social and economic well-being
Author: K. Kathiresan
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (7) 721-722 (2023)
Subject: Mangroves for sustainable social and economic well-being
Keywords: Mangroves, sustainable, social and economic well-being
Abstract: Climate change is a global emergency. All countries must remove 7.6% of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) per year from 2020 to 2030 so the temperature does not exceed 2°C. If this is not implemented, the impacts will be catastrophic, resulting in major disaster risks, according to the Paris Agreement 2015. In this critical situation, mangroves can provide a nature-based solution for climate change issues as they are a carbon-rich system that efficiently removes atmospheric CO2, generating higher carbon biomass than any other aquatic systems and also stores far greater carbon than any other ecosystem on the Earth1,2, making them indispensable for climate change mitigation
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Donato, D. C., Kauffman, J. B., Murdiyarso, D., Kurnianto, S., Stidham, M. and Kanninen, M., Nature Geosci., 2011, 4, 293– 297. Alongi, D. M., Science, 2020, 2, 57; doi:10.3390/sci2030057
Literature cited 2: Kathiresan, K. and Rajendran, N., Estuarine Coastal Shelf Sci., 2005, 65, 601–606. Pelayo Menéndez, Iñigo, J., Losada, Saul Torres-Ortega, Siddharth, N. and Michael, W. B., Sci. Rep., 2020, 10, 4404; https:// doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-61136-6

ID: 64991
Title: A pragmatic approach to formatting manuscripts of research papers
Author: Yateendra Joshi
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (7) 719-720 (2023)
Subject: A pragmatic approach to formatting manuscripts of research papers
Keywords: pragmatic approach, formatting manuscripts, research papers
Abstract: Are you annoyed by the insistence of some journals on exact formatting, such as ‘Do not put a period at the end of figure captions’ or ‘Use superscript numerals to indicate affiliations’? ‘Wish the journal would give greater attention to having my manuscript reviewed quickly than to such formatting trivia’, I hear you muttering. Research itself is difficult and costs money, time and effort, and writing an account of that research in the form of a publishable manuscript is not particularly easy either. By the time a manuscript is ready for submission to the chosen journal, its authors have exhausted nearly all the energy and attention they are willing to spend on that research – and need to keep plenty in reserve for addressing the reviewers’ comments, multiple revisions and proofreading. After uploading their manuscripts, authors would probably turn with relief to the next research project instead of wasting their time on checking whether ‘&’ is used instead of ‘and’ in parenthetical citations or whether the citation number is placed after – instead of before – the dot that ends a sentence.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Kozlov, M., Nature, 2023; https://www. nature.com/articles/d41586-023-01846-9 Jiang, Y., Lerrigo, R., Ullah, A., Alagappan, M., Steven, S. M., Goodman, N. and Sinha, S. R., PLoS ONE, 2019, 14, e0223976; https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0223976
Literature cited 2: Allana, G., LeBlanc, A. G., Barnes, J. D., Saunders, T. J., Tremblay, M. S. and Chaput, J.-P., PLoS ONE, 2019, 14, e0223116; https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0223116

ID: 64990
Title: Weed management
Author: J. S. Mishra, V. K. Choudhary and Sushilkumar
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (7) 717-718 (2023)
Subject: Weed management
Keywords: Weed management
Abstract: An international conference was organized to tackle the enormous losses caused by weeds in different agroecosystems and to discuss the future weed management strategies. More than 500 delegates, including eminent scientists, academicians, students, personnel from the pesticide industry and progressive farmers, participated in it. The conference aimed to share knowledge and ideas on available technologies for managing weeds in different agroecosystems and gain input on addressing emerging challenges.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1:
Literature cited 2:

ID: 64989
Title: Real-time hybrid simulation in the Pseudo-Dynamic Testing Facility at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
Author: Hironmoy Kakoty , Chinmoy Kolay, Shubham Raj and Kamal K. Kar
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (6) 685-691 (2023)
Subject: Real-time hybrid simulation in the Pseudo-Dynamic Testing Facility at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
Keywords: Adaptive time series compensator, earthquake response, numerical damping, real-time hybrid simulation, viscoelastic damper.
Abstract: Real-time hybrid simulation (RTHS) is a state-of-the-art, accurate, affordable method for simulating seismic effects on structures with loading rate-dependent behaviour. In RTHS, a part of the system that cannot be accurately modelled numerically is simulated experimentally in the laboratory, and the rest numerically. The response of the hybrid system is obtained in real-time by solving the governing equations of motion. This communication demonstrates an implementation of RTHS in the Pseudo Dynamic Testing Facility at IIT Kanpur and its application to seismic response simulation of a two-storey reinforced concrete special moment-resisting frame building with in-house-built nonlinear viscoelastic dampers.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Rai, D. C., Jain, S. K., Murty, C. V. R. and Bansal, D., Large capacity reaction floor–wall assembly for pseudo-dynamic testing at IIT Kanpur and its load rating. Curr. Sci., 2014, 106(1), 93–100. Sharma, R., Pseudo-dynamic test on medium-scaled models of steel braces and frames with hysteretic dampers, M.Tech. thesis, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, 2011.
Literature cited 2: Sharma, R., Sachan, A. and Rai, D. C., Correlation between pseudodynamic and shake table test on steel truss moment frames with hysteretic dampers. In 15th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Lisbon, Portugal, 2012. Kolay, C. and Ricles, J. M., Force-based frame element implementation for real-time hybrid simulation using explicit direct integration algorithms. J. Struct. Eng., 2018, 144(2), 1–13; doi:10.1061/ (ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0001944

ID: 64988
Title: Copper–gold mineralization and associated hydrothermal alteration around Suwara area, southern part of the Bundelkhand craton, Central India
Author: S. N. Rana, S. K. Ahirwar, V. P. Gaur and P. Singh
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (6) 678-684 (2023)
Subject: Copper–gold mineralization and associated hydrothermal alteration around Suwara area, southern part of the Bundelkhand craton, Central India
Keywords: Craton, granitoids, hydrothermal alteration, mineralization, quartz reefs.
Abstract: The structurally controlled copper–gold (Cu–Au) mineralization in the Suwara area in the southern part of the Bundelkhand craton, Central India, is hosted within quartz reefs traversing older granitoids. Mineralization is distinctly associated with hydrothermal alteration (potassic, chloritic and iron alteration in the ore zone and Kmetasomatism in the wall rocks). Field observations and laboratory evidence confirm the Fe–Cu–Au association in the study area. Sulphide mineralization is represented by pyrite, chalcopyrite, covellite, chalcocite and bornite occurring as disseminations, stringers and specks within the altered quartz veins, with gold occurring as fine isolated disseminations within quartz and iron oxides. Chemical analysis of surface and subsurface samples showed promising values for Cu (up to 1.0%) and Au (up to 450 ppb) content. Fluid inclusion studies indicated the occurrence of saline mineral fluids (Na– K–Cl-bearing) with the presence of H2O–CO2–CH4 in the mineral system. Overall characteristics of the mineralization and alteration patterns of the prospect indicate that it probably belongs to an iron oxide–copper–goldtype set-up for mineralization. The present study on Cu–Au mineralization from the southern Bundelkhand craton will have significant implications for further exploration and research in the area
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Basu, A. K., Geology of parts of Bundelkhand granite massif. Rec. Geol. Surv. India, 1986, 117(II), 61–124. Gaur, V. P. and Shahid, M., Geology and Mineral Resources of Bundelkhand Granitoid Complex (BGC), Special publication by Geological Survey of India, Central Region, Nagpur, 2021
Literature cited 2: Pati, J. K., Raju, S., Mamgain, V. D. and Shankar, R., Gold mineralization in parts of Bundelkhand Granitoid Complex (BGC). J. Geol. Soc. India, 1997, 50, 601–606. Kumar, A., Bind, G. and Hazra, D., Magmatic-hydrothermal origin of granite hosted Cu–Ba mineralization from southern Bundelkhand, Tikamgarh district, Madhya Pradesh, India. Curr. Sci., 2023, 124(1), 13–17.

ID: 64987
Title: Identifying suitable digital elevation models and deriving features for landslide assessment in Idukki District, Kerala, India
Author: A. Shameem Ansar, S. Sudha and Suresh Francis
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (6) 665-677 (2023)
Subject: Identifying suitable digital elevation models and deriving features for landslide assessment in Idukki District, Kerala, India
Keywords: Digital elevation models, geomorphological and hydrogeological features, landslide, spot height, vertical accuracy
Abstract: This study compares the vertical accuracy of different digital elevation models (DEMs), such as Cartosat-I, ASTER-GDEM, SRTM-GL1, ALOS3D30 and FABDEM with a resolution of 30 m, to the toposheet-derived 264 spot heights of Idukki district, Kerala, India, obtained from the Survey of India. We quantitatively assess the vertical accuracy of these DEMs by analysing their accuracy against randomly selected topographic map spot heights. The study also validates the accuracy of the DEMs by evaluating the vertical accuracy separately for different elevation classes representing varying terrain characteristics of the Idukki district. Statistical measures are used to evaluate the performance of the DEMs. The results of the study show that FABDEM exhibits an RMSE of 41.79 m, which is lower than that of other models. The study utilizes FABDEM to derive a set of 12 geomorphological and hydrogeological features, including slope, aspect, elevation, profile curvature, plan curvature, distance to road, relative relief, ruggedness index, drainage density, height above near drainage, wetness index and stream power index. The characteristics of various parameters are analysed. The uniqueness of this study lies in its utilization of geomorphological and hydrogeological features derived from FABDEM that directly impact the susceptibility of landslides in the region. The study identifies that a combination of these dynamic and static parameters, which vary with elevation classes, plays a significant role in determining landslide occurrence in this region.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Daya Sagar, B. S., Digital elevation models: an important source of data for geoscientists. IEEE Geosci. Remote Sensing Mag., 2020, 8(4), 138–142. Coveney, S., Association of elevation error with surface type, vegetation class and data origin in discrete-returns airborne LiDAR. Int. J. Geogr. Inf. Sci., 2013, 27(3), 467–483.
Literature cited 2: Mesa-Mingorance, J. L. and Ariza-Lopez, F. J., Accuracy assessment of digital elevation models (DEMs): a critical review of practices of the past three decades. Remote Sensing, 2020, 12(16), 2630. Mohammed Al Balasmeh, O. I. and Karmaker, T., Accuracy assessment of the digital elevation model, digital terrain model (DTM) from aerial stereo pairs and contour maps for hydrological parameters. Appl. Geomat. Civ. Eng., 2019, 461–470.

ID: 64986
Title: Occurrences of high-K calc-alkaline shoshonitic granitoids in the Northeastern part of Shillong Plateau, Meghalaya, India
Author: M. Faruque Hussain and Debjani Choudhury
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (6) 655-664 (2023)
Subject: Occurrences of high-K calc-alkaline shoshonitic granitoids in the Northeastern part of Shillong Plateau, Meghalaya, India
Keywords: Calc-alkaline rocks, continental collision, felsic shoshonites, geochemistry, magma evolution.
Abstract: Shoshonitic rocks represent the transition between calcalkaline and alkaline rocks, often formed during the last stages of uplift in zones of continental collision. This study describes the characterization of Kyrdem granitoids of Shillong plateau, Meghalaya, North East India, as felsic shoshonites. The study also documents petrogenesis of the shoshonites and suggests significant magma mixing and crust–mantle melt interaction as prime mechanisms for parental magma evolution. Crustal melt has most probably been sourced from a metabasaltic middle crust, while the mantle source is represented by an enriched sub-continental lithospheric mantle, metasomatized by sediment melt, during an earlier subduction event.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Perkins, R. J., Cooper, F. J., Condon, D. J., Tattitch, B. and Naden, J., Post-collisional Cenozoic extension in the northern Aegean: the high-K to shoshonitic intrusive rocks of the Maronia Magmatic Corridor, northeastern Greece. Lithosphere, 2018, 10, 582–601. Rezeau, H., Leuthold, J., Tayan, R., Hovakimyan, S., Ulianov, A., Kouzmanov, K. and Moritz, R., Incremental growth of mid- to uppercrustal magma bodies during Arabia–Eurasia convergence and collision: a petrological study of the calc-alkaline to shoshonitic MeghriOrdubad pluton (southern Armenia and Nakhitchevan, Lesser Caucasus). J. Petrol., 2018, 59, 93
Literature cited 2: Ding, L. X., Ma, C. Q., Li, J. W., Robinson, P. T., Deng, X. D., Zhang, C. and Xu, W. C., Timing and genesis of the adakitic and shoshonitic intrusions in the Laoniushan complex, southern margin of the North China Craton: implications for post-collisional magmatism associated with the Qinling Orogen. Lithos, 2011, 126, 212–232. Beccaluva, L., Bianchini, G., Mameli, P. and Natali, C., Miocene shoshonite volcanism in Sardinia: implications for magma sources and geodynamic evolution of the central western Mediterranean. Lithos, 2013, 180, 128–137.

ID: 64985
Title: Evaluating the performance of crop yield forecasting models coupled with feature selection in regression framework
Author: Manoj Varma, Achal Lama, K. N. Singh and Bishal Gurung
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (6) 649-654 (2023)
Subject: Evaluating the performance of crop yield forecasting models coupled with feature selection in regression framework
Keywords: Crop yield, feature selection, prediction models, regression framework, statistical measures, weather indices
Abstract: As crop yield is determined by numerous input parameters, it is important to identify the most important variables/parameters and eliminate those that may reduce the accuracy of the prediction models. The feature selection algorithms assist in selecting only those relevant features for the prediction algorithms. Instead of a complete set of features, feature subsets give better results for the same algorithm with less computational time. Feature selection has the potential to play an important role in the agriculture domain, with the crop yield depending on multiple factors such as land use, water management, fertilizer application, other management practices and weather parameters. In the present study, feature selection algorithms such as forward selection, backward selection, random forest (RF) and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) have been applied to three different datasets. Regression forecasting models have been developed with selected features for all the algorithms. The forecasting performance of the proposed models was compared using statistical measures such as root mean square error, mean absolute prediction error and mean absolute deviation. A comparison was made among all the feature selection algorithms. The regression models developed with LASSO, RF and backward selection algorithms were the best for different datasets.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Singh, K. N., Singh, K. K., Kumar, S., Panwar, S. and Gurung, B., Forecasting crop yield through weather indices through LASSO. Indian J. Agric. Sci., 2019, 89, 540–544. Agrawal, R., Jain, R. C. and Jha, M. P., Joint effects of weather variables on wheat yields. Mausam, 1983, 34, 189–194.
Literature cited 2: Agrawal, R., Has, C. and Aditya, K., Use of discriminant function analysis for forecasting crop yield. Mausam, 2012, 63(3), 455–458. Springenberg, J., Dosovitskiy, A., Brox, T. and Riedmiller, M., Striving for simplicity: the all convolutional net. In 2nd International Conference on Learning Representations, ICLR2014, Banff, AB, Canada, 14–16 April 2014, pp. 1–14; https://arxiv.org/abs/1412.6806.

ID: 64984
Title: Analysis of factors promoting the usage of electronic National Agriculture Market in Rajasthan, India
Author: Sushmita Saini, Basavaprabhu Jirli and Smruti Ranjan Padhan
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (6) 643-648 (2023)
Subject: Analysis of factors promoting the usage of electronic National Agriculture Market in Rajasthan, India
Keywords: Agriculture, electronic market, factor analysis, information and communication technology, principal component analysis
Abstract: Information and communication technology (ICT) can improve the value and supply chain for agriculture. The post-harvest value chain is still extensive in India, and farmers frequently do not get a reasonable share of the profit. Despite greater procurement by the state and federal Government agencies as well as players in the private sector, the vast majority of farmers continue to get the short end of the stick. The present study focuses on the factors promoting the usage of the electronic National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) in Rajasthan, India. The significant P-values in KMO and Bartlett’s test indicate that researchers can proceed with the factor analysis. Using principal component analysis, it was found that the well-known functionalities of e-NAM included virtual highlights, capacity-building amenities, e-bidding design features, value-addition modules and e-logistics features, which encouraged stakeholders to sell their products across the Indian states using digital platforms in order to achieve higher prices compared to traditional markets. The supply chain has been shortened due to e-NAM, which connects the physical markets of multiple states on a virtual stage using ICT.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Aker, J. C., Ghosh, I. and Burrell, J., The promise (and pitfalls) of ICT for agriculture initiatives. Agric. Econ., 2016, 47(S1), 35–48. WB, ICT in Agriculture: Connecting Smallholders to Knowledge, Networks, and Institutions, World Bank, Washington DC, USA, 2011
Literature cited 2: FAO, Information and communication technology (ICT) in agriculture: a report to the G20 agricultural deputies, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy, 2017. . Saini, S. and Jirli, B., Extent of utilization of information and communication technology (ICT) in the agricultural marketing by farmers and traders in Tonk and Dausa Districts of Rajasthan. J. Commun. Mobil. Sustain. Dev., 2022, 17, 153–157

ID: 64983
Title: Irrigation scheduling based on canopy temperature and soil moisture status
Author: Gurleen Kaur, Vandna Chhabra and S. Sreethu
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (6) 635-642 (2023)
Subject: Irrigation scheduling based on canopy temperature and soil moisture status
Keywords: Canopy temperature, irrigation scheduling, remote sensing, soil moisture, water stress
Abstract: Issues of water availability and quality are major concerns under the climatic change scenarios. For sustainable agriculture, improved irrigation techniques can play a crucial role in the conservation of water and increase crop production. This article delineates the necessity of irrigation scheduling based on sound scientific principles. To effectively manage irrigation and crop water requirements, all irrigation scheduling methods should focus on a soil-plant-atmosphere approach.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/water-in-agriculture (accessed on 15 March 2022). Jain, R., Kishore, P. and Singh, D. K., Irrigation in India: status, challenges, and options. J. Soil Water Conserv., 2019, 18(4), 354–363.
Literature cited 2: Amarasinghe, U. A., Shah, T., Turral, H. and Anand, B. K., India’s water future to 2025–2050: business-as-usual scenario and deviations. IWMI Research Report 123, International Water Management Institute, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 2007, p. 47. Jones, J. W., Irrigation scheduling: advantages and pitfalls of plant-based methods. J. Exp. Bot., 2004, 55(407), 2427–2436.

ID: 64982
Title: Long-term ecological monitoring and observation: a review in the context of Indian Himalaya
Author: Vikram S. Negi, Suresh K. Rana, Bhawana Dangwal, Shinny Thakur, K. Chandra Sekar and I. D. Bhatt
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (6) 623-634 (2023)
Subject: Long-term ecological monitoring and observation: a review in the context of Indian Himalaya
Keywords: Alpine ecosystem, biodiversity conservation, forest management, Himalaya, long-term ecological monitoring, long-term observations
Abstract: Long-term experiments are essential in understanding the ecological consequences of global land use and climate change. Further, it is well established that Longterm data sets are prerequisites for effective management of forest resources and biodiversity conservation. In view of this, the present study attempts to contribute to major global long-term ecological monitoring (LTEM) networks and the status of LTEM studies in India with a special focus on Indian Himalayan Region. Over the last 40 years, around 103 countries from the America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia have been engaged in LTEM studies on various aspects of biodiversity, monitoring and predicting climate change impacts in a range of ecosystems, including the mountains. The temporal distribution of past studies on the subject shows a gradual increasing pattern (3 papers in 1992) with a peak during 2021 (105 papers). The established LTEM networks across the globe provide a significant empirical basis for understanding ecosystem structure and dynamics. Literature indicates plenty of permanent monitoring plots from India, mostly from southern India, and their significant contribution to ecosystem understanding. Himalayan regions are important sites for monitoring biological and socio-ecological responses to environmental perturbations, including climate change. LTEM studies are lacking in the IHR; only a few sites have been established, mostly in alpine ecosystems. This review identifies research gaps, opportunities with respect to LTEM studies, and the possibilities for strengthening long-term research and observation in India in general and the Himalaya in particular.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Lindenmayer, D. B. et al., Value of long‐term ecological studies. Austral Ecol., 2012, 37(7), 745–757. Cusser, S., Helms, I. V., Bahlai, C. A. and Haddad, N. M., How long do population level field experiments need to be? utilising data from the 40‐year‐old LTER network. Ecol. Lett., 2021, 24(5), 1103– 1111.
Literature cited 2: Lindenmayer, D., Burns, E., Thurgate, N. and Lowe, A. J., The value of long-term research and how to design effective ecological research and monitoring. In Biodiversity and Environmental Change: Monitoring, Challenges and Direction (eds Lindenmayer, D. et al.), CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne, 2014. Haase, P. et al., The next generation of site-based long-term ecological monitoring: linking essential biodiversity variables and ecosystem integrity. Sci. Total Environ., 2018, 613, 1376–1384.