ID: 56332
Title: Effect of rice mill wastewater on soil respiration and enzyme activities under field and pot conditions
Author: A Padhan and S K Sahu
Editor: Prof V Subramanian
Year: 2012
Publisher: Capital Publishing Company, Vol 9, No 2, April 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution
Keywords: Rice mill wastewater, soil respiration, amylase, dehydrogenase, invertase, protease, enzyme activities
Abstract: The physico-chemical characteristics of rice mill wastewater was measured and the effect of rice mill wastewater on respiration and enzyme activities (amylase, invertase, protease and dehydrogenase) of rice cropped soil was investigated under field and pot conditions at 15 days interval for 90 days. For the pot experiment five different concentrations (0, 25, 50,75 and 100%) of rice mill wastewater was used. The results of the field experiment revealed significant difference in the soil respiration and enzyme activities rates control and experimental plots from 30 days onwards. After 90 days the soil respiration and enzyme activities were inhibited by about 25-34% in experimental plots, whereas the results of the pot experiment revealed a maximum increased of about 36% in soil respiration and 24-45% in enzyme activities (amylase, invertase, protease and dehydrogenase) in 50% wastewater irrigated soil and a maximum decrease of about 40% in soil respiration and 24-40% in enzyme activities in 100% wastewater irrigated soil. The adverse effects of rice mill wastewater (100%) on soil respiration and enzyme activities were attributed to alkaline pH (8.0) of wastewater with higher contents of phenols (35 mg-1l), silica (58 mg-1l) and sodium (235 mg-1l). Significant increase in soil respiration and enzyme activities at lower concentrations (i.e. 50%) may be due to the fact that, the above parameters being in the diluted form could favour the microflora to boost their activities. On the basis of above findings, we suggest that the rice mill wastewater should be diluted up to 50% before use for agricultural purpose. However, further works on the effect of rice mill wastewater on different crops and soil animals are needed to corroborate the present findings.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56331
Title: Leaching behaviour of elements from high sulphur fly ash
Author: Sk. Md. Equeenuddin, Santosh Kumar and Shantanu Kumar Dutta
Editor: Prof V Subramanian
Year: 2012
Publisher: Capital Publishing Company, Vol 9, No 2, April 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution
Keywords: Metals, unburnt carbon particle, fly ash
Abstract: Environment degradation due to leaching of elements from fly ash is of great concern. Leaching result of Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn from the high sulphur fly ash collected from captive power plant of Nagaon Paper Mill, Assam is reported. The pH of the leachate is weakly alkaline in nature, ranging from 7.39 to 7.90. Fly ash contains very high concentration of elements in comparison with Gondwana counterpart. However, mobilization of elements from the Nagaon fly ash is very less, and is possibly due to the presence of high unburnt carbon.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56330
Title: Evaluation of Groundwater Quality Index in Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation,Andhra Pradesh using GIS and laboratory methods
Author: P Swarna Latha and K Nagewara Rao
Editor: Prof V Subramanian
Year: 2012
Publisher: Capital Publishing Company, Vol 9, No 2, April 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution
Keywords: Physico-chemical analysis, groundwater, water quality index, GIS, GVMC, Andhra Pradesh
Abstract: An integrated approach of geographical information system (GIS), global positioning system (GPS) and water quality index (WQI) studies has been effectively used for identifying the spatial distribution for quality of groundwater zones in Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC), a coastal city of Andhra Pradesh state. Physico-chemical analysis was carried out for various selected parameters such as pH, alkalinity, electrical conductivity (EC), total hardness (TH), calcium hardness (CaH), sodium (Na), potassium (K), chloride (Cl), sulphates (SO4), fluorides (F) and indirectly estimated parameters like total dissolved solids (TDS), magnesium hardness (MgH), carbonates plus bicarbonates (CO3 + HCO3) by adopting standard methods and compared with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The analytical results revealed that most of the groundwater was found to be in polluted category. The GIS analysis of spatial distribution map of the overall water quality index revealed that only nine percent of groundwater during pre-monsoon and around sixteen percent in post-monsoon is suitable for drinking purpose.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56329
Title: Assessing probabilistic rainfall scenario over the Vidarbha region, India for proper risk evaluation and management of water resources
Author: Jayanta Sarkar
Editor: Prof V Subramanian
Year: 2012
Publisher: Capital Publishing Company, Vol 9, No 2, April 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution
Keywords: Vidarbha region, gamma distribution, probabilistic rainfall, risk evaluation, water resources
Abstract: In a tropical country like India, instability in agricultural production stems from vagaries of rainfall. A complete and quantitative understanding of spatial and temporal variation of this resource is, therefore, required to increase and stabilize food production. The use of average seasonal or monthly rainfall does not seem to be appropriate for planning as it does not cover the risk factor. A detailed probability analysis can bring out the amount of rainfall expected at different probability levels which in turn can give the number of years of adequate, deficient and excess rainfall.
Keeping in mind the above aspects, the present paper studies probabilistic rainfall scenario over the Vidarbha region which, despite having tremendous agriculture potential, could not develop to its full potential.
The study reveals that dynamic influence (mainly lows and depressions moving over the area) is the main cause of rainfall over Vidarbha. Accumulated Assured Rainfall (AAR) analysis, by fitting incomplete Gamma Distribution Model at different probability levels, indicates that it is maximum in the eastern part of Bhandara and northern part of Gadchiroli districts while it is minimum over western Vidarbha covering northern parts of Buldhana, Akola and adjoining Amravati districts. Weekly assured rainfall analysis reveals that in seventy percent of the years, the eastern most districts of the region get at least 25 mm of rainfall per week continuously for 13 weeks during mid-June to first half of September. Based on AAR analysis at 70% probability level the entire study region has been divided into five homogeneous rainfall zones (namely A, B, C, D and E). The region to the west of 790E (A, B and C zones) receives lower rainfall compared to that to the east of 790E (D and E zones). This could be attributed to the fact that Vidarbha mainly gets rainfall from lows/depressions formed over Bay of Bengal and move in a westerly/northwesterly direction and sheds much of its rainwater over the eastern D and E zones, while A, B and C zones get rainfall when these systems pass their heydays. In each of these zones the amount of peak rainfall and when the peak is received has also been found out. This type of rainfall information at different probability levels could serve as basic input of planning for agriculture, land use, drainage requirements and water resources development. Coupled with soil information these will help deciding crop types that could be raised to increase and stabilize production.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56328
Title: A sonication extraction method to determine PAHs in activated sludge (Supernatant and solid) for the monitoring of aerobic biodegradation
Author: Yamen AlSalka, Kai Lehnberg, Djamila Al-Halbouni, Francois Karabet, Mohammad Shahir Hashem and Rasha Al Misrabi
Editor: Prof V Subramanian
Year: 2012
Publisher: Capital Publishing Company, Vol 9, No 2, April 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution
Keywords: PAHs, HPLC, extraction, activated sludge, wastewater, aerobic biodegradation
Abstract: A simple analytical method was developed and optimised for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in activated sludge consisting of supernant and solid, which collected from the aerobic reactor (aerated zone) of the biological treatment step in a wastewater treatment plant. The procedure accomplishes in feasible time of extraction and reasonable solvent volume without the need of any special technique to perform the extraction step. The method involves extraction of entire sample by sonication and mechanical shaking using n-hexane, preconcentration by solvent evaporation, and determination by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array fluorescene detectors.The developed method was optimised to give precise results in both low and high spiked samples: relative standard deviation lower than 10%, limits of detection lied between 0.2 and 5 ? gkg-1, and recoveries were between 66% and 109%. This method allows the monitoring of the bioremediation efficiency of PAHs by the activated sludge, since it permits the extraction of both PAHs; those that adsorbed to the solid phase, and the other that presented in suprenatant phase. The activated sludge could be valuable in the bioremediation of lighter PAH compounds mainly those which consists of two and three fused aromatic rings.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56327
Title: Impact of land use and urbanization activities on water quality of the Mega city, Dhaka
Author: A M M Maruf Hossain and Shafiqur Rahman
Editor: Prof V Subramanian
Year: 2012
Publisher: Capital Publishing Company, Vol 9, No 2, April 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution
Keywords: Dhaka mega-city, water quality, water management
Abstract: The capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka, is a mega city with around 12 million people in 2006. Its urban growth rate is one of the fastest in the world. The city is surrounded by four rivers with well distributed streams and drainage channels as well as inlands and opern water bodies. The chemical and biological environments of these water bodies profoundly infleunce the inhabitants ' life in numerous ways. Agriculture, economy, health, as well as expansion of the city are influenced by the enviornment of these water bodies. The untreated domestic sewage and uncontrolled industrial discharges are turning the water quality from bad to worse. Groundwater storage is on the verge of great threat because of increasing pollution of the surface water. Ecological balance of these water streams is facing serious threat due to pollution with severely limiting fish growth. Unplanned urbanization and industrialization in the city are contributing largely to all the problems regarding water environment. Seasonal open water bodies are still considered suitable for development of fishery and aesthetic applications. Development activities are required to ensure various environments of water bodies safe and sustained, and regulations are needed to be imposed to protect these environments.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56326
Title: Flora of Anshi National Park, Western Ghats- Karnataka
Author: Sanchin A. Punekar and P. Lakshminarasimhan
Editor: Sanchin A. Punekar and P. Lakshminarasimhan
Year: 2011
Publisher: Biospheres Publication
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Flora of Anshi National Park, Western Ghats- Karnataka
Keywords: None
Abstract: None
Location: Kumta Field Station
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56325
Title: Portrait of community mapping stages through zoning system on management of Teluk Cenderawasih National Park, West Papua
Author: Sepus Fatem and Jim Van Laar
Editor: Dr S S Negi
Year: 2012
Publisher: The Indian Forester, Vol 138, No 2, February 2012
Source: Kumta Field Station
Reference: None
Subject: The Indian Forester
Keywords: Community mapping, National Park, Zoning system, West Papua
Abstract: This paper is part of the internship program including field work and desk work in Teluk Cenderawasih National Park office, manokwari West Papua from November 2009 to February 2010. Field work was conducted to learn how local peoples are involved in zoning stages. This study reveals that the zoning system in Teluk Cederawasih National Park is known as " community based zoning". There are 12 stages in building zoning in the community mapping process. There are 3260 households which are spread over 64 villages around the national park. Accommodating people ' s desires, livelihoods as well as traditional taboos is obligatory. For this reason, zoning was built as one approach in this national park. There are 6 zones as a result from zoning process it self. On the other hand, local people are involved in the whole process not have meaning that there going bail for sustainable way to extract resources by them. In fact, conflict on resources extraction is still going on. In addition, poverty is main in this national park. It has had a big influence on the mangament of the resources. One pathwary to reduce poverty is by economic alternative incentives which will ensure sustainable conservation efforts.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56324
Title: Diversity of entomopathogenic fungi in the Kerala part of the Western Ghats
Author: R F Juliya, K V Sankaran and R V Varma
Editor: Dr S S Negi
Year: 2012
Publisher: The Indian Forester, Vol 138, No 2, February 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: The Indian Forester
Keywords: Diversity, Entomopathogenic fungi, Western Ghats, Insect Cadavers
Abstract: A survey carried out in the Kerala part of the Western Ghats revealed high diversity of entomopathogenic fungi. A total of 401 fungi were identified from 341 insect cadavers during the study period of which 316 fungi were collected from moist deciduous forests (MDF) and 85 from teak plantations. Fungi were isolated from insects belonging to 10 orders with the highest isolations from the order Lepidoptera (120). Fifty eight species of fungi belonging to 24 genera were identified. Cadavers collected from MDF and teak plantations yielded 52 and 29 species respectively. Majority of the identified species belonged to the class Deuteromycotina. The overall abundance of entomogenous fungi was less in both MDF and teak plantations as indicated by rank abundance plots. Overlapping k-dominance curves showed the shift of dominance relative to species richness of fungi between the forest circles of both MDF and teak plantations. Rarefaction analysis for species richness showed that more species could be collected, if the sampling process had continued. The diversity of fungi was high in MDF compared to teak plantations. Diversity was high for northern and central forest circle of MDF and teak plantations respectively. Individual abundance and species abundance of fungi was high during the wet period. The fungi identified included commercially important and medically useful species.
Location: Kumta Field Station
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56323
Title: Variation in fruit morphological traits of Jatropha curcas at stand and tree level
Author: Kshitij Malhotra, Dinesh Kumar and Vidya Dhar Pandey
Editor: Dr S S Negi
Year: 2012
Publisher: The Indian Forester, Vol 138, No 2, February 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: The Indian Forester
Keywords: Jatropha curcas, fruit morphological traits, variance components, repeatability
Abstract: Nine fruit morphological traits were studied in ten stnads of Jatropha curcas spread in eight forest divisions of Uttarakhand. Variation was examined at stand level as well as at tree level. Significant differences were found among stands for fruit length, fruit diameter, pericarp weight per fruit, seed: fruit weight ratio, kernel: fruit weight ratio and pericarp: fruit weight ratio traits while all morphological traits showed significant differentces among trees within stands. The estimation of the variance components, however, revealed that the fruit traits, especially weight traits viz. fruit weight, total seed weight per fruit and total kernel weight per fruit have negligible contribution from stands and small contribution from trees. Maximum variation was found among fruits within trees (i.e. at fruit level or error). Pericarp weight per fruit and fruit ratio traits (i.e. seed: fruit weight ratio, kernel: fruit weight ratio and pericarp: fruit weight ratio) were affected to small extent by stand per se. The repeatability of all fruit traits at tree level were also low to moderate (0.105 to 0.278).
Location: Kumta Field Station
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56322
Title: Propagation techniques of Crataegus crenulata: A multipurpose plant of mid Himalayan hills
Author: Ranjit Singh, P S Negi, M C Arya and Z. Ahmed
Editor: Dr S S Negi
Year: 2012
Publisher: The Indian Forester, Vol 138, No 2, February 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: The Indian Forester
Keywords: Crataegus crenulata, IAA, IBA, NAA, Ghingaroo
Abstract: The study standardized the propagation techniques of Crataegus crenulata through seeds and cuttings. Mature pencil thick cuttings were collected and treated with different hormone concentrations (100, 150, 200, 250, 300 and 350 ppm) of hormones i.e. IBA (Indole-3-butyric acid), IAA (Indole-3-acetic acid) and NAA (Napthelene-6-acetic acid). Sprouting and rooting capacity of the cuttings were assessed under open environmental conditions. Data revealed that IBA 250 ppm significantly enhanced spouting, rooting and root length as compared to other plant growth regulators and control. The IBA (250 ppm) treated cuttings were found to be best for maximum plant length (189.32 cm) and number of branches (6.45) after six months of transplantation in the field. Overnight (12 hr) dipping the cuttings in running water was observed helpful in removing phenolic components. Dipping of seeds in lukewarm water overnight (12 hrs) significantly improved in germination percentage (85-90%) as compated to control (65-70%). Comparative study indicate that cutting raised seedlings were having edge over seed raised seedlings in terms of plant height and number of branches and being a faster method of multiplication also.
Location: Kumta Field Station
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56321
Title: Infestation status of heart rot disease of Pasur (Xylocarpus mekongensis), tree in the Sundarbans
Author: A S M Helal Siddiqui and Abul Khair
Editor: Dr S S Negi
Year: 2012
Publisher: The Indian Forester, Vol 138, No 2, February 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: The Indian Forester
Keywords: Heart rot disease, Mangrove forest, Pasur (Xylocarpus mekongensis), tree, Sundarbans
Abstract: The study was conducted to know the heart rot infestation status of Pasur (Xylocarpus mekongensis), trees in the Sundarbans. The tree species is affected by heart rot problem locally known as "dhor". The study showed the highest incidences at kalabogi (64%) followed by 62% at Bojboja and lowest 17% at Supati (Fresh water zone). It is characterized by the gradual death of the crown, starting first with small twigs and then gradually larger branches die. This is a great loss to the forest ecosystem and the country.
Location: Kumta Field Station
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56320
Title: Indigenous veterinary use of medicinal plants in Sikkim Himalayas
Author: Kumar Avinash Bharati and B L Sharma
Editor: Dr S S Negi
Year: 2012
Publisher: The Indian Forester, Vol 138, No 2, February 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: The Indian Forester
Keywords: Ethnoveterinary, livestock, indigenous people, Sikkim Himalaya, Medicinal plants
Abstract: This paper presents the findings of an exploratory study on ethnoveterinary medicinal systems used for livestock in Sikkim Himalaya. The data have been collected from March 2008 to June 2009 through open conversation with local people and traditional healers. It has been resulted in the documentation of 27 medicinal plant species belonging to 20 families and 27 genera. There are 16 types of ailment have been reported to be cured by the use of 27 plant species. Out of 27 species, the highest number of plants has been reported to treat cut, injuries and wound. As regards the plant part/s used in remedy preparation, the maximum numbers of species are harvested for leaves (9 species) followed by roots and rhizomes (8 species), whole plants, fruits, etc. The richness of plant diversity decreased with increase in altitude but the percentage of species used as medicine steadily increase with increase in altitude, may be due to preference given to herbal remedies in high altitude areas with having no alternative choice and poverty. This underlines the potentials of the ethnomedicine and need for the documentation of traditional knowledge for the greater benefit of mankind.
Location: Kumta Field Station
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56319
Title: Community structure, species niche width and soil characteristics in a transitional zone of sub-tropical forest
Author: Munesh Kumar, Sanjay Kumar, Mehraj A Sheikh and M S Gusain
Editor: Dr S S Negi
Year: 2012
Publisher: The Indian Forester, Vol 138, No 2, February 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: The Indian Forester
Keywords: Species niche width, transitional zone, sub-tropical forest, Anogeissus latifolia, Pinus roxburghii
Abstract: The study was carried out in the transitional zone of Anogeissus latifolia and Pinus roxburghii forests to understand the forest community structure, species niche width and soil characteristics. Three different forest types i.e., Pure Anogeissus latifolia (PAL) and Pure Pinus roxburghii (PPR) and mixed forest of Anogeissus latifolia and Pinus roxburghii (M.AL & PR) were reported in the study area. The soil pH was alkaline (7.26) in PPR forest followed by neutral (7.0) in M.AL & PR forest and acidic (6.76) in PAL forest. Soil organic carbon was 0.52 + 0.05% highest in PAL forest followed by M.AL & PR forest (0.50 + 0.17%) and lowest in PPR (0.41+ 0.02%) forest. The phosphorus (31.68 kg/ha) and potassium (196 kg/ha) were the highest in M.AL & PR forest followed by PAL (31.58 kg/ha for phosphorus and 167.63 kg/ha for potassium) and PPR (23.09 kg/ha for phosphorus and 153.07 kg/ha for potassium) forests. Among the trees, the highest niche width was reported for Anogeissus latifolia (1.98) followed by Pinus roxburghii (1.96) and in shrub layer the niche width of Carissa opaca (2.45) was quite high compared to other shrubs species. The soil conditions in transition zone favoured the growth of diverse species composition.
Location: Kumta Field Station
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56318
Title: Taxonomic observations of the family adiantaceae from Eastern Garhwal region of Uttarakhand
Author: H C Pande, Chhaya Singh, Avneet Kaur and Pragya Joshi
Editor: Dr S S Negi
Year: 2012
Publisher: The Indian Forester, Vol 138, No 2, February 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: The Indian Forester
Keywords: Microphotographic illustrations, Adiantaceae, Eastern Garhwal
Abstract: The present manuscript deals with the detailed taxonomic studies on monotypic genus Adiantum L. from eastern part of the Garhwal region. 6 species are described with detailed microphographs of plant appendages, critical notes (whereever essential), ecological habitat and distribution. This is the first detailed microphotographic illustrated account of family Adiantaceae from Garhwal region.
Location: Kumta Field Station
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None