ID: 62632
Title: Biomass, productivity and carbon sequestration of Tectona grandis and Gmelina arborea –based silvipastoral system
Author: Preeti Toppo, P.R., Oraon, Bijay Kumar Singh and Abhay Kumar
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 121 (12) 1594-1599 (2021)
Subject: Biomass, productivity and carbon sequestration of Tectona grandis and Gmelina arborea –based silvipastoral system
Keywords: Biomass, carbon sequestration, forage crop, productivity, silvipastoral
Abstract: This study was conducted in 2009 at Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi. Jharkhand, India with Tectona grandis (teak), Gmelian arborea (gambhar) and forage crops such as Sudan grass (Sorghum sudanense) and Hybrid Napier grass (Pennisetum glaucum x Pennisetum purpueum) which were grown under silvipastoral system. Total biomass and total productivity potential of silvipastoral system were found highest with the combination of Tectona grandis and Hybrid Napier, i.e.29.14 tonne ha-1 and 21.0 tonne ha-1 year-1 respectively, while minimum total biomass was found in sole Sudan grass (2.42 tonne ha-1) and maximum total productivity in T.grandis (2.09 tonne ha-1 year-1) .The total carbon sequestration potential under silvipastoral system was maximum in T1: teak and Hybrid Napier grass (88.64 tonne ha-1) followed by T3: gambhar+Hybrid Napier (84.72 tonne ha-1). ,T2: teak+Sudan grass (77.68 tonne ha-1) and T4: gambhar + Sudan grass (77.42 tonne ha-1).Annual contribution of total litter production was 505.16 g m-2.Leaf litter in the species accounted for 95.40 % and wood (branches and twigs) contributed 4.49% to total litter .The highest litterfall of 56.30 g m-2 was recorded in February followed by 151.72 g m-2 in January, while the latest litterfall by 4.83 g m-2 was recorded in August.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Kumar ,S., Aggarwal ,R.K., Dixit, A.K., Rai, A.K.,S.K., Forage crops and their management Indian grassland and Fodder Research Institute ,Jhansi, 2012, p.60.
Gupta, S.K., Raina, N.S., and Sehgal, S., Potential of silvipastoral systems in improving the forage production in the hills of Jammu and Kashmir.J.Res. KSUAST.J., 2007, 6, 149-157.
Literature cited 2: Lundgren, B.O., and Raintree, J.B., Cited in Editorial: What is agroforestry Agrofor.Syst, 1982, 1, 7-12.
Toky, O.P., Poplar an economy booster and eco-friendly agroforestry tree. Agrofor. News Lett., NRC for Agroforestry, 1997, 9, 2-3.
ID: 62631
Title: Long-term monitoring of land-use/land-cover change in Morena district, Madhya Pradesh, India, using EO satellite data
Author: Ajay Tiwari, Shivraj Singh Tomar, Vivek Katare, S.P. Vyas and P.S.Dhinwa
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 121 (12) 1584-1593 (2021)
Subject: Long-term monitoring of land-use/land-cover change in Morena district, Madhya Pradesh, India, using EO satellite data
Keywords: Change detection, deforestation, land use, landcover, ravines, satellite data
Abstract: Knowledge on land-use/land-cover (LULC) patterns plays an important role in the development plan of any area. In addition, the information on change in LULC is important in studying the type and magnitude of land conversion and the associated land and environment l degradation taking place in a given area. In the present study, we map and monitor the LULC change that has taken place in a given area. In the present study, we map and monitor the LULC change that has taken place in Morean district, Madhya Pradesh, Indian during the past 25 years (1994-2018).Multi-season satellite data have been analysed along with ancillary information to prepare LULC maps at 1:50,000 scale for 1994 and 2018.These maps reveal that the area under built-up land has increased from 23.19 to 57.69 sq.km, mainly due to population growth. Double-cropped area has increased from 608.05 to 2050.08 sq.km due to reclamation of ravines. Ravine are in the district has decreased by about 22 % during the above-mentioned period, indicating that the land reclamation measures taken by the people and the concerned government department have been effective forest decreased from 235.47 to 143.47 sq.km due to deforestation and forest degradation.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Dhinwa, P.S. et al., Land use change analysis of Bharatpur district using GIS. J. Indian Soc. Remote Sensing, 1992, 20(4), 237-250.
Turner, B.L., Meyer, W.B., and Skole, D.L., Global Land-use/land-cover change: towards an integrated study.Ambio, 1994, 23(1), 91-95.
Literature cited 2: Meyer, W.B., Past and present land use and land cover in the USA.Consequen:Nat.Implic.Environ.Change, 1995, 1(1) 25-33.
Moser, S.C., A partial instructional module on global and regional land use/cover change: assessing the data and searching for general relationships. GeoJournal, 1996, 39 (3), 241-283.
ID: 62630
Title: The inter-linking or rivers and biodiversity conservation: a study of Panna Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, India
Author: Talat Parveen and Orus Ilyas
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 121 (12) 1572-1583 (2021)
Subject: The inter-linking or rivers and biodiversity conservation: a study of Panna Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, India
Keywords: River linking, submerged area, tiger reserve, ungulates density, water crisis
Abstract: The Panna tiger reserve is one of the best examples of the most successful tiger re-introduction programme from zero tiger in 2009 to 54 in 2019.The Government of India has approved the proposal of interlinking of the two rivers, viz. Ken in Madhya Pradesh and Betwa in Uttar Pradesh, to provide surplus water to the local population of drought prone areas of Bundelkhand, UP. This river interlinking will be submerging around 58.03 sq.km of the Critical Tiger Habitat. Our study on vegetation and major prey species of tiger shows higher densities in submerged areas. The NITI Ayog report of 2019 provided one of the best example of the locals of Jakhani village of Banda district of Bundelkhand which managed the sever e water crisis. The sensitivity of tiger reserve that project involves need a close attention, which this essay attempts at arguing.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Ramesh, K., Samuel, A.c., Mriganka, S.S., Manjari, M., Moorthy Jeyaraj, A.J., and Subharanjan, S., Multi-scale prediction of landscape resistance for tiger dispersal in central India.Lands.Ecol, 2016, 31, 1335-1368; doi: 10.1007/s10980-016-0363-0.
Bhardwaj, T., Panna National Park: a gem among Madhya Pradesh Tiger Reserves. Financial Express, 8 March 2021; https://www.financial express.com/lifestyle/travel-tourism/panna-national-park-a-gem-among-Madhya-Pradesh-tiger-reserves/2208426/
Literature cited 2: Anon., Comprehensive environmental impact assessment of Ken-Betwa link project, phase-1, National Water Development Agency (a Government of India Society under the Ministry of Water Resources), 2012, XX11, 2012.
Anon., Ken-Ketwa River linking project: recalling an old idea whose time may have come. The Indian Express, 16 May 2016: https:indianexpress.com/article/explained/ken-netwa-river-linking-project-wildlife-clearance-panna-tiger-reserveforest-land-2797614.
ID: 62629
Title: A grounded theory approach for the assessment of urban development policies in Indian cities
Author: Sanjeev Kumar and Krishna Kumar Dhote
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 121 (12) 1561-1571 (2021)
Subject: A grounded theory approach for the assessment of urban development policies in Indian cities
Keywords: Development plans, grounded theory, million-plus cities, urban planning principles
Abstract: Urbanization in India has led to the development of new urban centres and an increase in the number of million-plus cities. The planning principles keep on evolving with time. In India, these principles are implemented through development plans. This study examines the extent to which Indian urban planning policies address contemporary urban planning principles in the perspective of rapidly evolving global urban policies. Development plans of 13 million-plus state capital cities across India have been analysed following grounded theory. The study reveals that Indian cities are not completely embracing global contemporary urban planning principles in their development plans, and the provision of these principles also differs among cities. The study proposes suggestive planning measures which might be incorporated in the urban planning process to address the challenges arising out of complexities of urbanization. The study explores how development plans endorse and implement particular urban development strategies and more generally contributes to enforcement of contemporary urban planning principles. The goal of the study is to establish a link between contemporary urban development principles articulated through the development plans.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: MoUD, Model Guidelines for Urban Land Policy, Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India (GoI), 2007.
Edadan, N., Structural determinants of unregulated urban growth and residential land pricing: case of Bangalore.J.Urban Plann.Develop., 2015, 141 (4), 1-9.
Literature cited 2: Turok, I., The evolution of national urban policies: a global overview. Cities Alliance, Nairobi, Kenya, 2014.
Shaban, A., Kourtit, K. and Nijkamp, P., India’s urban system: sustainability and imbalance growth of cities. Sustainability, 2020, 2941 (12), 1-20.
ID: 62628
Title: Fungal degradation of cultural heritage monuments and management options
Author: Prachi Tyagi, Rajesh K.Verma and Neeraj Jain
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 121 (12) 1553-1560 (2021)
Subject: Fungal degradation of cultural heritage monuments and management options
Keywords: Biodegradation, biocidal essential oils, cultural heritage, fungi, historical monuments
Abstract: Fungi are widely recognized as major biodeteriogens of both modern and historical buildings/monuments. Different fungal taxa have been isolated from cultural heritage monuments/structures depending on climatic conditions, humidity level and surface material for fungal colonization. Deterioration of such monuments by fungi is through assimilatory biochemical and non-assimilatory mechanisms. This article provides information on fungi infesting historical monuments/sites across the globe and their management by various biocidal compounds. This preventive methods and potency of various essential oils against fungal growth on cultural heritage materials are also critically reviewed. The available information supports the use of essential oils for surface treatment or vapour exposure to prevent mould infestation on heritage monuments. Essential oils may also function as fungicidal agents in biocidal formulations/coatings.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: George, R.P., Ramya, S., Ramachandran, D. and Kamachi Mudali, U., Studies in biodegradation of normal concrete surface by fungus Fusarium sp.Cem.Coner.Res.,2013,47, 8-13.
Ligon, B.L., Penicillin: its discovery and early development.Sem.Pediatr.Infect.Dis.,2004, 5, 52-57.
Literature cited 2: Haum,C.,El-Tohamy,W.and Gruda, N., Increasing the productivity and product quality of vegetable crops using arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: a review.Sci.Hortic., 2015, 187, 131-141.
Shoemaker, R.C., and House, D.E., Sick building syndrome (SBS) and exposure to water-damaged buildings: time series study, clinical trial and mechansisms.Neutrotoxical.Teratol, 2006, 28, 573-588.
ID: 62627
Title: Why are the builders and operators of dams and hydels in the Hindu Kush-Karakoram-Himalaya so poorly prepared for hydroclimatic hazards
Author: Pradeep Srivastava, Han She Lim and Robert Wasson
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 121 (12) 1549-1552 (2021)
Subject: Why are the builders and operators of dams and hydels in the Hindu Kush-Karakoram-Himalaya so poorly prepared for hydroclimatic hazards
Keywords: Hindu-Kush-Karakoram-Himalaya, hydroclimatic hazards, risk assessment, monitoring
Abstract: The large and apparently increasing magnitude of losses of lives and property due to hydroclimatic hazards in the Hindu Kush-Karakoram-Himalaya (HKH), exemplified by the recent February, 2021 Rishiganaga and 2013 Kedarnath floods, shows that risk assessment and planning are inadequate. In the Anthropocene, where climate change is a real and present danger, the frequency of such events is likely to increase along with the damage. Based on our present understanding of the hydroclimatic risks in the HKH, we appeal for a more comprehensive plan for improving our understanding and monitoring. The scheme suggests expansion of mapping and assessment of the factors that contribute to risk. Further development of the archives of extreme events as one of the bases for risk assessment, developing real time monitoring of hazard elements such as potential for lake outbursts and landslides is essential. Artificial intelligence (AI) should be employed to provide early warning. In India a taskforce of the earth scientists, hydrologists, historians and engineers (civil an A1) should be established to chart a course for the creation of this understanding and monitoring. Similar action may be taken up in other HKH countries.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Sain, K. et al. A Perspective on Rishiganga-Dauliganga flash flood in the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, Garhwal Himalaya, India.J.Geol.Soc.India, 2021, 97, 335-338
Rana, N. et al., A preliminary assessment of the 7 February 2021 flash flood in lower Dhauli Ganga Valley, Central Himalaya,India.J.Earth Syst.Sci.,2021, 130,78
Literature cited 2: Bhambri,R.,Mehta,M, Singh,S.,Jayangondaperumal,R.,Gupta,A.K. and Srivastava,P.,Landslide inventory and damage assessment in the Bhagirathi Valley,Uttarakhand, during June 2013 flood. Himalayan Geol, 2017, 38 (2), 193-205.
Ballesteros-Canovas, J.A., Allen, S. and Stoffel, M., The importance of robust base line data on past food events for regional risk assessment: a study case from the Indian Himalayas. Contribution paper to GAR 2019.United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, 2019, p.22; https://www.unisdr.org/we/inform/publications/66405.
ID: 62626
Title: Lessons not learnt even after witnessing ample disasters
Author: S.Sandilyan
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 121 (12) 1531-1532 (2021)
Subject: Lessons not learnt even after witnessing ample disasters
Keywords: Witness, ample disasters
Abstract: Recent reports from the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) have clearly established the deleterious role of invasive alien species on global species extinction. Especially the invasion of alien species in the aquatic ecosystem possesses a serious threat to global aquatic diversity, in particular the exotic ornamental fishes emerging as a great challenge to the native population. Earlier studies in several parts of India reported the occurrence of 27 exotic ornamental fish species in different inland wetlands. Among them, 15 species have alarmingly established their population in the wild. The National Biodiversity Authority, Chennai, has declared seven exotic ornamental fishes as invasive to Indian inland wetlands. Obviously, the sucker mouth catfish (tank cleaner) reported even in remote village ponds of India, clearly indicates the invasion potential of the exotic ornamental fishes.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Sandilyan, S., Curr. Sci., 2016, 110(11), 2099-2104
Sandilyan, S., Invasive Alien Species of India, National Biodiversity Authority, Chennai, 2018; http://nbaindia.org/uploaded/pdf/Iaslist.pdf.
Literature cited 2: www1.https://www.iucn.org/resources/issues-briefs/invasive-alien-species-and-sustainable-development (accessed on 30 September 2020).
Sandilyan, S., The Hindu, 2019; https://www.the hindu.com/opinion/op-ed/fish-in-troubled-waters/article30332362.ece.
ID: 62625
Title: Marine litter monitoring studies in India –gaps and challenges
Author: Vipin Joseph Markose and E.V.Ramasamy
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 121 (12) 1530-1530 (2021)
Subject: Marine litter monitoring studies in India–gaps and challenges
Keywords: Marine litter monitoring studies, gaps and challenges, India
Abstract: Monitoring litter in the marine environment is a challenging task for researchers all over the world. The litter accumulates all in parts of the marine environment such as beaches, Open Ocean and seafloor. Kumar and Sivakumar have emphasized the importance of marine debris monitoring along beaches, coastal waters and seabed regions of India. While analysing research articles related to marine litter monitoring in India excluding microplastics), we noted that majority (67%) of the studies had been carried out in beaches and only a few on creeks (9%), mangroves ecosystem (9%) and on shallow sea litter (15%). This indicates the gap existing in floating and deep-sea litter monitoring studies in India. Globally however, the number of research publications on seafloor litter is increasing since 2012.As limited studies have been carried out in deep-sea litter in India, priority needs to be given to locate litter accumulation on the seafloor.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Kumar, A.A. and Sivakumar, R., Curr.Sci., 2016, 110 (7), 1153-1154.
Canals, M. et al., Environ.Res.Lett. 2021, 16(2), 1-29.
Literature cited 2: https://www.niot.res.in/niot1/dst_intro.php
Biermann, L., Clewley, D., Vicente, V.M., and Topouzelis, K., Sci. Rep., 2020, 10, 5364.
ID: 62624
Title: Wasteland or degraded land-the dilemma continues
Author: A.Arunachalam, S.Suresh Ramanan Response by K.Sreenivasa, G.Sujatha, Tarik Mitran, K.G. Janaki Rama Suresh, T.Ravishanakar, P.V.N.Rao
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 121 (12) 1522-1523 (2021)
Subject: Wasteland or degraded land-the dilemma continues
Keywords: Wasteland, degraded land
Abstract: Land degradation (LD) is one of the major concerns of the 21st century. It can be attributed to both natural and anthropogenic factors. The article by sreenivas et al is a commendable effort to envision integration of ecological services from the perspective of human sustenance. The foundation of a food-production system is good land, i.e., soil. Definition of a land according to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is as follows: ‘Land is a delineable area of the earth’s terrestrial surface, encompassing all attributes of the Biosphere immediately above or below this surface, including near-surface climate, the soil and terrain forms, the surface climate, the soil and terrain forms, the surface hydrology (including shallow lakes, rivers, marshes and swamps), the near-surface sedimentary layer and associated groundwater reserve, the plant and animal populations, the human settlement pattern and physical results of past and present human activity.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1:
Literature cited 2:
ID: 62623
Title: Alternaria laternata causes leaf and fruit blight in Makhana
Author: Santosh Kumar, Tribhuwan Kumar, Mahendra Singh, Tamoghna Saha and Mahesh Kumar
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 121 (11) 1492-1495 (2021)
Subject: Alternaria laternata causes leaf and fruit blight in Makhana
Keywords: Alternaria alternate, Euryale ferox, leaf and fruit blight, makahana, pathogenicity test.
Abstract: Makhana (Euryale ferox) is a high-value commodity of nutritional, medicinal and ritualistic significance. North Bihar has occupied a prominent position in terms of the production and productivity of makhana not only in India, but across the globe, Leaf blight disease on makahana was noticed in April 2018, with a severity of 15-20 % in a survey of farmers’ ponds in North Bihar, Symptoms of the disease were circular, small, light-brown, necrotic, sunken lesion that later turned into a large, dark, obligated area in the leaves. Blighting of fruits was also noticed during June and July 2018.Blighted fruits were small, distorted and twisted with less seed. Alternaria alternate was identified as the pathogen causing the disease based on morphological and cultural characteristics of the culture maintained on potato dextrose agar from symptomatic leaf and fruit samples. The fungus gave rise to greyish to grey-black colonies with obclavate to obpyriform, catenulate conidia in chains. Conidia consisted of 2-5 horizontal and 0-2 vertical septa and measured 15-60 x 5-9 µm in dimension. Molecular confirmation was done by sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of rDNA using ITSI and ITS4 primers. Eventually, pathogenicity test inferred that leaf and fruit blight in makahana are due to A.alternata infection.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Shankar, M.Choudhary, N. and Singh, D., A review on gorgon nut.Int.J.Pharm.Biol.Arch, 2010, 1(2, 101-107.
Kumar, L., Gupta, V.K., Khan, M.A., Singh, S.S., Jee Janardan and Kumar, A., Field based makahana cultivation for improving cropping intensity of rice fields .Bihar J.Hortic.,2011,1,71-72.
Literature cited 2: Jana, B.R., Impact of water depth on growth of gorgon nut and associated weed under wetland ecosystem of North Bihar province in India. J. Crop Weed., 2017, 13, 77-82.
White, T.J., Brun, T.Lee, S. and Taylor, J., Amplification and direct sequencing of fungal ribosomal genes for phylogenetics.In PCR Protocol: A Guide to Methods and Applications (eds Innis, M.A. et al). Academic Press., New York, USA, 1990, pp.315-322.
ID: 62622
Title: Economic analysis of pesticide expenditure for managing the invasive fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E., Smith) by maize farmers in Karnataka, India
Author: Sharanabasappa S.Deshmuck, C.M. Kalleshwaraswamy, B.M. Prasanna, H.G. Sannathimmappa, B.A. Kavyashree, K.N. Sharath, Palam Pradeep and Kiran Kumar R.Patil
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 121 (11) 1487-1492 (2021)
Subject: Economic analysis of pesticide expenditure for managing the invasive fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E., Smith) by maize farmers in Karnataka, India
Keywords: Economic analysis, fall armyworm, maize famers, pesticide expenditure, yield.
Abstract: The fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E.Smith) invaded India for the first time in May 2018 in Karnataka and since then has threatened maize production in the country. In this study conducted during 2017-2020, a total of 150 smallholder maize farms were randomly selected and surveyed from three major maize-growing districts in Karnataka for the pesticide usage patterns, pesticide cost and yield During 2020,FAW infestation level was recorded at 2.15 larvae per 100 plants with an overall Davis damage score of 3.80 .Maize farmers used on an average 2.12 pesticide sprays per season for FAW management in the surveyed districts in 2020.Maize yield was 4.46, 3.76,4.06 and 4.18 tonnes per hectare in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 respectively, and the average cost on pesticides spent by farmers per 100 kg maize grain during the same years was US $ 1.39 respectively. The study highlights the effect of FAW invasion on pest management regime in the maize crops of Karnataka. Integrated pest management is the need of the hour to reduce the environmental impact of synthetic pesticides use and to protect the incomes and livelihood of the smallholders.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy, 2021.
Anon, Agricultural Statistics at a Glance, Government of India, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare, Department of Agriculture Cooperation and Farmer’s Welfare, Directorate of Economics and Statistics, 2019, p.59.
Literature cited 2: Anon, Karnataka at a Glance 2019-20, Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Government of Karnataka, Bengaluru, 2021.
Luginbill, P., The fall armyworm, US Department of Agriculture, Technical Bulletin, 1928, vol.34, p.91.
ID: 62621
Title: Causes and consequences of Rishiganga flash flood, Nanda Devi Bioshpehere Reserve, central Himalaya, India
Author: Manish Mehta, Vinit Kumar, Kalachand Sain, Sameer K. Tiwari, Amit Kumar and Akshaya Verma
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 121 (11) 1483-1487 (2021)
Subject: Causes and consequences of Rishiganga flash flood, Nanda Devi Bioshpehere Reserve, central Himalaya, India
Keywords: Flash flood, Himalaya, Nanda Devi, Ranuthi Gadera, Rishiganga
Abstract: On 7 February 2021 at 10:30am, a huge amount of slurry material flooded the Rishiganga catchment, resulting in excessive flow along the valley. The main cause of this flood was the dislocation of a huge rock mass approximately 540 m wide and 720 m long from the main rock body, which slipped down towards the Raunthi Gadera valley floor, causing massive devastation in the areas such as Raini, Tapovan, and Vishnu-prayag. This event was not expected and was the first event in history when a flash flood occurred in winter. In this study, we tried to answer two major questions which are not been explained so far that are related to this disaster. The questions are (i) why did this event occur in winters? (ii) where did so much debris and water come from? This study clearly answers these questions based on field observations.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Mehta, M.Shukla, T., Bhambri, R. Gupta, A.K. and Dobhal, D.P., Terrain changes, caused by the 15-17 June 2013 heavy rainfall in the Garhwal Himalaya,India:a case study of Alknanda and Mandakini basins. Geomorphology, 2017, 284, 53-71.
Valdiya, K.S., Paul, S.K., Tara, C., Bhakuni, S.S. and Upadhyay, R.C., Tectonic and lithological characterization of Himdari (Great Himalaya) between Kali and Yamuna rivers, Central Himalaya. Himalayan Geol., 1999, 20, 1-17.
Literature cited 2: Dobhal, D.P., Gupta, A.K., Mehta, M. and Khandelwal, D.D., Kedarnath disaster: facts and plausible causes.Curr., Sci., 2013, 105 (2), 171-174.
Stocker, T.F., et al., (eds), Climate Change: The Physical Science Basis, Cambridge University Press, 2013, p.1535.
ID: 62620
Title: Particulate matter concentration in the microenvironment of wheat thresher
Author: Anvesha and Abhay Kumar Mehta
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 121 (11) 1480-1482 (2021)
Subject: Particulate matter concentration in the microenvironment of wheat thresher
Keywords: Dust, microenvironment, particulate matter, standard limits, wheat thresher
Abstract: In the present study three commercial wheat threshers of capacity 600-800, 800-1200 and 1200-1500 kg/h were operated and mean concentration of PM1, PM2.5, PM4,PM10 and TSP was recorded at three locations, i.e. 3 m to the left, right and back of the blower outlet and compared with standard limits of 24 h mean of PM2.5 and PM1 recommended by NAAQS, Central Pollution Control Board New Delhi, Environment Protection Agency and WHO air quality guidelines.PM10 concentration emitted from all threshers exceeded the desired limits. The thresher with the lowest capacity only exceeded the PM2.5 concentration limits recommended by WHO, whereas the other two threshers exceeded all desirable limits of PM2.5 concentration.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Schenker, M., Exposure and health effects from inorganic agricultural dusts. Environ. Health Perspect, 2000, 108 (4), 661-664.
Erisman, J.W., Bleeker, A., Galloway, J. and Sutton, M.S., Reduced nitrogen in the ecology and environment. Environ. Pollut., 2007, 150, 140-149.
Literature cited 2: Beig, G. et al., Objective evaluation of stubble emission of North India and quantifying its impact on air quality of Delhi. Sci. Total Environ., 2020, 709, 136126.
Singh, P., Roy, A., Bhasin, D. Kapoor, M. Ravi, S., and Dey, S., Crop fires and cardiovascular health-a study from North India.SSM Popul.Health, 2021, 14, 100757.
ID: 62619
Title: Land resources evaluation and drainage network analysis of water shed for site specific crop planning using GIS
Author: Gouranga Kar, Prasanta Kumar Patra, M.Raychaudhuri, P.S.B.Annad, N.M.Alam, Sunita Panigrahi, Himadrinath Sahoo and S.K.Chaudhari
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 121 (11) 1470-1479 (2021)
Subject: Land resources evaluation and drainage network analysis of water shed for site specific crop planning using GIS
Keywords: Crop diversification, drainage, land resources, precision farming, remote sensing, watershed
Abstract: To meet the demand of food, fodder, fuel and fibre for the ever-increasing population of the world, achieving higher land and water productivity of a parcel of land is a major challenge. For this, site specific cropping system plan and land-use system based on basic soil and terrain information area prerequisite. With the advent of remote sensing and geospatial technique, collection of point data and their spatial interpolation on water shed basis is possible in quick time, which can be used for site-specific cropping system planning. In this study, site specific cropping planning. In this study, site-specific cropping system and profitable land-use plan were prepared for a watershed of eastern India (Darpanarayanpur, Nayagarh district, Odisha) using geospatial technique. Drainage analysis revealed that prominent drainage pattern was dendritic with low drainage density which indicates that the watershed region has subsoil with high permeability and low relief and, accordingly, rainwater harvesting structures have been suggested in the watershed.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Kar, G. Singh, R. and Verma, H.N., Productive and profitable management of rainfed lowland rice through intensive cropping and efficient water use. Research Bulletin, WTCER, Bhubaneswar, 2004, 17, 56.
Srivatsa, R. and Saxena, R.K., Technique of large-scale soil mapping using satellite remote sensing. Int. J. Remote Sensing, 2004, 25, 679-688.
Literature cited 2: Solanke,P.C.,Srivastava,R.,Prasad,J.,Nagaraju,M.S.S.,Saxena, R.K.and Barthwal,A.K.,Application of remote sensing and GIS in watershed characterization and management.J.Indian Soc.Remote Sensing, 2005, 33(2), 239-244.
Velmurugan,A. and Carlos,G.G.,Soil resource assessment and mapping using remote sensing and GIS.J.Indian Soc.Remote Sensing, 2009, 37, 511-525.
ID: 62618
Title: High uranium concentration in groundwater used for drinking in parts of eastern Karnataka, India
Author: R.Srinivasan, S.A. Pandit, N.Karunakara, Deepak Salim, K.Sudeep Kumara, M.Rajesh Kumar, Ganesh Khatei and Kavitha Devi Ramkumar
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 121 (11) 1459-1469 (2021)
Subject: High uranium concentration in groundwater used for drinking in parts of eastern Karnataka, India
Keywords: Dharwar Craton, geogenic contamination, groundwater, uranium
Abstract: The limits recommended by World Health Organization (WHO) and the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) of India for Uranium concentration in drinking water are 30µg/l and 60µg/l respectively. The present study on uranium concentration in groundwater used for drinking purposes in 73 villages of Karnataka, India, shows that in 57 villages uranium concentration is more than 30 µg/l, including 48 villages where it exceeds 60 µg/l. Thus in 78% and 66% of the villages studied, uranium concentration exceeds permissible limits given by WHO and AERB respectively. It is alarming to note that in one village each in Tumkur and Chitra Durga districts, five in Kolar and seven in Chikkaballapura districts, uranium concentration is in thousands of micrograms per liter. None of the borewells from which water has been sampled is anywhere in the vicinity of nuclear facilities or urban waste disposal channels. Thus, the observed uranium contamination is considered to be geogenic. Previous geological studies have shown that the eastern portion of Karnataka is a part of the Neoarchean Eastern Dharwar Craton dominated by large ion lithophile element-rich K-feldspar granites and gneisses with higher abundance of radioactive elements (uranium and thorium) compared to the Mesoarchean tonalite-trondhjemite gneisses and granitoids widely distributed in the Western Dharwar Craton.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Ma, M., Wang, R., Xu, L., Ming, X. and Liu, S., Emerging health risks and underlying toxicological mechanisms of uranium contamination: lessons from the past two decades Environment International, 2020, 1(45) , 106107, pp.1-15.
Bean, J.A., Isacson, P., Hahne Rolf, M.A., and James ,K., Drinking water and cancer incidence in Lowa.II. Radioactivity in drinking water.Am.J.Epidemiol., 1982, 116(6), 924-932.
Literature cited 2: Wagner, S.E., et al., Ground water uranium and cancer incidence in South Carolina. Cancer Causes Control, 2011, 22 (41) , 41-50.
Radespiel-Troger, M. and Meyer, M., Association between drinking water uranium content and cancer risk in Bavaria, Germany. Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health., 2013, 86, 767-776