Enter records

ID: 62422
Title: Recent trends in insecticide resistance research on whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae): a bibliometric profile
Author: S. Rajna, K. V. Praveen, M. Laneesha and S. S. Kelageri
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES &EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (9) 1433-1440 (2021)
Subject: Recent trends in insecticide resistance research on whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae): a bibliometric profile
Keywords: Bibliometric analysis, emerging trends, insecticide resistance, journal impact factor, research articles, whitefly.
Abstract: This study is a bibliometric analysis of insecticide resistance research on whitefly carried out globally from 2010 to 2020. The analysis is based on 1198 research articles identified using Web of Science tool, which is processed further using VOS viewer. The results show that there is an increase in the number of articles, particularly from countries like USA and China. Denholm Ian, Liu Shu-Sheng and Xie Wen are identified as the most influential authors, and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Science in China, and the University of Florida and the University of Arizona in USA as key organizations. A total of 198 articles published during this period are highly cited. Pest Management Science and PLOS ONE are the important journals identified. The most common area of the research focus has been on the insecticide resistance of different whitefly species, and the status of resistance against different insecticide compounds. Our findings can act as a useful reference for researchers and provide insights for directing future research on whitefly insecticide resistance that has potential implications for farming across the world.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Sundararaj, R. and Dubey, A., Species diversity of whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in Western Ghats, India. In Invertebrate Diversity and Conservation in the Western Ghats (eds Priyadarsanan, D. et al.), Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, Bengaluru, 2019, pp. 225–234 Anjum, H. and Ahmed, S. I., An updated and consolidated review on Indian aleyrodids fauna (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae: Insecta) along with their host plant families and distributional records. Rec. Zool. Surv. India, 2019, 119(4), 381–417.
Literature cited 2: Martin, J. H. and Mound, L. A., An annotated check list of the world’s whiteflies (Insecta: Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). Zootaxa, 2007, 1492(1), 1–84. Taquet, A., Delatte, H., Barrès, B., Simiand, C., Grondin, M. and Jourdan‐Pineau, H., Insecticide resistance and fitness cost in Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) invasive and resident species in La Réunion Island. Pest Manage. Sci., 2020, 76(4), 1235–1244.

ID: 62421
Title: Big questions in geoscience and challenges for the geoscience community
Author: Rasoul Sorkhabi
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES &EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (9) 1426-1432 (2021)
Subject: Big questions in geoscience and challenges for the geoscience community
Keywords: Big questions, geoscience education, geoscience workforce, research and development, survey.
Abstract: Geoscience is relatively underrated in our public education. Public perception of big questions in science is often related to cosmology and physics. However, geoscience deals with its own big questions and offers a body of knowledge that directly benefits society. Twenty areas of significant questions, challenges and opportunities in geoscience articulated in a survey of 136 geoscientists are reported here. Global warming and the petroleum industry top the list. Prediction and mitigation of natural hazards, especially big earthquakes and explosive volcanoes, tackling environmental degradation and pollution of various types, as well as exploration of rare earth metals and energy minerals essential to everyday life are among the practical topics of study. Some of the big questions pertain to the most distant geologic past – Hadean and Eo-Archean times (4.5–3.5 Ga) – during which the primitive Earth’s internal structure, crust, atmosphere, oceans and biosphere were formed. Other questions concern those physical parts of the Earth – the mantle and the core –that are not directly accessible to us. Geoscience is far from integrating crustal phenomena and plate tectonics with the dynamics, heterogeneities and evolution of the mantle. Causes of paleoclimate changes and mass extinctions, and the relationships between these two remain fertile fields of research. Extraterrestrial influences such as lunar gravitational stresses and meteorite impacts should be better integrated into Earth system science. Many of the big questions in geoscience are multidisciplinary and require various methods and big data analytics.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Maddox, J., What Remains to Be Discovered? Meeting the Secrets of the Universe, the Origins of Life, and the Future of Human Race, Simon & Schuster, New York, USA, 1998. Rudwick, M. S., Earth’s Deep History, The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, USA, 2014
Literature cited 2: Valdiya, K. S., The tragedy of being a geologist. Curr. Sci., 2012, 102, 581–589 IPCC, Fifth Assessment Report, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2014; https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/syr/

ID: 62420
Title: Suggestions for a course on environment and social hydrology for hydrologists
Author: Sharad K. Jain and Paritosh C. Tyagi
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES &EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (8) 1423-1425 (2021)
Subject: Suggestions for a course on environment and social hydrology for hydrologists
Keywords: Environment, social hydrology, hydrologists
Abstract: Our ancient scriptures had included water among the five key elements in nature, recognizing the central role that it has in life. Leonardo da Vinci, the famous scholar, artist and engineer has stated that ‘water is the driving force of all nature’. Clearly, when we deal with water systems, we are directly or indirectly interacting with a facet of nature.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: WCD, Dams and development: a new framework for decision-making. Report of the World Commission on Dams, 2000. http://www.futuredams.org/the-world-commission-on-dams-20-years-on/ Sivapalan, M. et al., Earth’s Future, 2014, 2, 225–230; doi:10.1002/2013EF000164.
Literature cited 2: Madani, K. and Shafiee-Jood, M., Water, 2020, 12, 1941; doi:10.3390/w12071941. Ward, A. D., Trimble, S. W., Burckhard, S. R. and Lyon, J. G., Environmental Hydrology, CRC Press, Boca Raton, USA, 2015, 3rd edn.

ID: 62419
Title: Food plasticity for mating and reproductive success in Propylea dissecta (Mulsant) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)
Author: Priya Singh, Geetanjali Mishra and Omkar
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES &EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (8) 1388-1392 (2021)
Subject: Food plasticity for mating and reproductive success in Propylea dissecta (Mulsant) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)
Keywords: Fecundity, food supply, ladybird, reproduction, viability
Abstract: Food supply at each life stage is of prime importance that determines the organism’s fitness and also influences individual’s reproductive performance and development. In this contest, we assessed the interactive effect of both larval and adult food regimes in Propylea dissecta (Mulsant) individuals. For this, egg batches were randomly selected and hatched larvae (larval diet) were reared into two food regimes, abundant (A) and scarce (S) till pupation. Post-emergence (adult stage) the ladybird beetles of each food regime were divided into two groups, abundant and scarce and at the age of 10 days adults were paired in all possible combinations. The results showed that individuals that were reared on abundant food mated for longer and showed higher reproductive output than other individuals. The adults provided with scarce and abundant food regime both irrespective of life stages showed similar mating durations and reproductive output. Food supply at larval and adult stages in both sexes plays important role in determining the repro
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Jervis, M. A. and Ferns, P. N., The timing of egg maturation in insects: ovigeny index and initial egg load as measures of fitness and of resource allocation. Oikos, 2004, 107(3), 449–461. Boggs, C. L. and Freeman, K. D., Larval food limitation in butterflies: effects on adult resource allocation and fitness. Oecologia, 2005, 144, 353–361.
Literature cited 2: Geister, T. L., Lorenz, M. W., Hoffmann, K. H. and Fischer, K., Adult nutrition and butterfly fitness: effects of diet quality on reproductive output, egg composition, and egg hatching success. Front. Zool., 2008, 5, 10. Auer, S. K., Arendt, J. D., Chandramouli, R. and Reznick, D. N., Juvenile compensatory growth has negative consequences for reproduction in Trinidadian guppies (Poecilia reticulata). Ecol. Lett., 2010, 13, 998–1007

ID: 62418
Title: Insights into the petrogenesis of depleted mantle dunite from the central part of the Nagaland–Manipur Ophiolites, Northeast India
Author: A. Krishnakanta Singh, S. Khogenkumar, Santosh Kumar, L. Romendro Singh and S. S. Thakur
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES &EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (8) 1381-1388 (2021)
Subject: Insights into the petrogenesis of depleted mantle dunite from the central part of the Nagaland–Manipur Ophiolites, Northeast India
Keywords: Geochemistry, dunite, forearc, ophiolite, petrogenesis, supra-subduction.
Abstract: This communication presents results of mineral and whole-rock geochemistry of rarely occurred dunites in the central part of the Nagaland–Manipur Ophiolites (NMO), Northeast India, and discusses their genesis and tectonic evolution. These rocks are characterized by low concentration of average CaO (0.58 wt%), Al2O3 (0.42 wt%) and ΣREE (1.24 ppm), but high Mg# (0.91–0.92) and Cr# (0.61–0.73) values in chromian spinels. They exhibit a U-shaped REE pattern depleted in MREEs, which is equivalent to dunite
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Miyashiro, A., The Troodos ophiolitic complex was probably formed in island arc. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 1973, 19, 218–224. Pearce, J. A., Alabaster, T., Shelton, A. W. and Searle, M. P., The Oman ophiolite as a Cretaceous arc-basin complex: evidence and implications. In Extensional Tectonics Associated with Convergent Plate Boundaries: A Royal Society Discussion (eds Vine, F. J. and Smith, A. G.), Royal Society of London, UK, 1981, pp. 299–317.
Literature cited 2: Portnyagin, M. V., Danyushevsky, L. V. and Kemenetsky, V. S., Coexistence of two distinct mantle sources during formation of ophiolites: a case study of primitive pillow-lavas from the lowest part of the volcanic section of the Troodos ophiolite, Cyprus. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol., 1997, 128, 287–301. Saccani, E., Beccaluva, L., Coltorti, M. and Siena, F., Petrogenesis and tectono-magmatic significance of the Albanide–Hellenide ophiolites. Ofioliti, 2004, 29, 77–95

ID: 62417
Title: Nutritional evaluation and storage stability of popped pearl millet bar
Author: Ritu Singh, Karuna Singh and Manjeet Singh Nain
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES &EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (8) 1374-1381 (2021)
Subject: Nutritional evaluation and storage stability of popped pearl millet bar
Keywords: Free fatty acid, nutritional analysis, peroxide value, popped pearl millet bar, sensory evaluation, storage.
Abstract: The study was aimed at making the pearl millet available in ready-to-eat form to people with some enhanced nutritional and storage properties. A bar was developed through popping processing using pearl millet as main ingredient. It was formulated using dry raw materials (popped pearl millet, popped amaranth, puffed Bengal gram, flax seeds, sunflower seeds and raisins), and agglutinative ingredients (sugar and carboxyl methyl cellulose). The developed bar was evaluated for proximate composition, nutritional quality, as well as change in moisture, water activity (aw), free fatty acids and peroxide value, textural and sensory attributes, and total microbial load during storage under ambient conditions (25 ± 28.0°C and 65 ± 10% RH) after packaging in high density polyethylene and metalized-polyester polyethylene pouches for 3 months. The developed bar was found to have 10.84% protein, 4.39% fat and 6.45% dietary fiber. The minerals and vitamins like calcium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc estimated, were: 58.70, 215.65, 3.17 and 5.13 mg/ 100 g respectively. The metallized pouch film was found suitable for packing popped pearl millet bars with respect to its stability and acceptability, and the product remained chemically and microbiologically safe and stable during entire storage. The development of composite bar using low cost, locally available ingredients were nutri dense and a convenient snack for children and adults.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Satyavathi, C. T., Praveen, S., Mazumdar, S., Chugh, L. K. and Kawatra, A., Enhancing demand of pearl millet as super rain current status and way forward. ICAR-All India Coordinated Research Project on Pearl Millet, Jodhpur, 2017 Onyango, C. A., Ochanda, S. O., Mwasaru, M. A., Ochieng, J. K., Mathooko, F. M. and Kinyuru, J. N., Effects of malting and fermentation on anti-nutrient reduction and protein digestibility of red sorghum, white sorghum and pearl millet. J. Food Res., 2013,2(1), 41–49
Literature cited 2: Sade, F. O., Proximate, anti-nutritional factors and functional properties of processed pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum). J. Food Technol., 2009, 7(3), 92–97. Malleshi, N. G. and Desikachar, H. S. R., Varietal difference in puffing quality of ragi (Eleusine coracana). J. Food Sci. Technol., 1981, 18, 30–32

ID: 62416
Title: Does recently invaded fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda displace native lepidopteran pests of maize in India?
Author: J. Divya, C. M. Kalleshwaraswamy, H. B. Mallikarjuna and Sharanabasappa Deshmukh
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES &EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (8) 1358-1367 (2021)
Subject: Does recently invaded fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda displace native lepidopteran pests of maize in India?
Keywords: Fall armyworm, lepidopteran pests, intraguild competition, species displacement
Abstract: Competitions are common among interacting species for resources or space. In India, recently invaded fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) has to compete with native lepidopterans to become successful in an exotic environment. Invasive FAW and native pink stem borer (PSB), Sesamia inference belong to the same feeding guild, and hence they are intraguild competitors. FAW is an aggressive pest and is known to have a cannibalism/predation habit and hence a good model system to study the ecological interactions. The present study examined the incidence of different lepidopteran pests in maize fields for three years after the recent invasion. Incidence of FAW increased over the years compared to other lepidopteran pests. Laboratory and field intraguild competition studies were conducted to understand the survival and fitness of FAW and PSB larvae under different competition scenarios. Our study demonstrated that survival of FAW was reduced in intraspecific as compared to interspecific competition. However, survival of PSB was significantly reduced in interspecific competition due to intraguild predation by FAW. Fitness cost analysis of PSB pupae survived in competition with FAW larvae indicated that they were negatively affected with reduced pupal weight. Low field incidence of PSB and its lowest survival in the presence of intraguild competitor, i.e., FAW prove that PSB might get displaced from the maize ecosystem in the near future.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Gao, Y. and Reitz, S. R., Emerging themes in our understanding of species displacements. Annu. Rev. Entomol., 2017, 62, 165–183. Reitz, S. R. and Trumble, J. T., Competitive displacement among insects and arachnids. Annu. Rev. Entomol., 2002, 47, 435–465
Literature cited 2: Williamson, M., Biological Invasions, Chapman and Hall, UK, 1996, p. 244. Sakai, A. K. et al., The population biology of invasive species. Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst., 2001, 32, 305–332

ID: 62415
Title: Measuring technical efficiency and frontier intervention for farm machinery manufacturers using slacks-based data envelopment analysis
Author: Manoj Kumar, M. B. Tamhankar, Sandip Mandal, V. Bhushana Babu and Bikram Jyoti
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES &EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (8) 1350-1357 (2021)
Subject: Measuring technical efficiency and frontier intervention for farm machinery manufacturers using slacks-based data envelopment analysis
Keywords: Data envelopment analysis, farm machinery, frontier intervention, manufacturers, technical efficiency.
Abstract: The objective of this study is to estimate technical efficiency of farm machinery manufacturers in Central India. The statistical test for the presence of technical inefficiency has been performed using stochastic frontier production model. Data envelopment analysis (DEA) has been used to identify existing returns to scale in farm machinery manufacturing units. The slacks-based DEA has been used to estimate input excess and output shortfall in the manufacturing system. Results indicate that out of the total variation, 69% was due to technical inefficiency in the manufacturing system, whereas 31% was due to stochastic errors. The estimated radius of stability was varied from 0 to 1.74 and the classification (efficient and inefficient manufacturers) was found robust against data alteration within the estimated radius of stability. The results showed that a manufacturer has to increase annual turnover by INR 40.7 million to become efficient.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Charnes, A., Cooper, W. W. and Rhodes, E., Measuring the efficiency of decision-making units. Eur. J. Oper. Res., 1978, 2(6), 429–444 Cooper, W. W., Seiford, L. M. and Zhu, J., Data envelopment analysis: history, models, and interpretations. In Handbook on Data Envelopment Analysis, Springer, Boston, MA, 2011.
Literature cited 2: Tone, K., A slacks-based measure of efficiency in data envelopment analysis. Eur. J. Oper. Res., 2001, 130(3), 498–509 Mehta, C. R., Chandel, N. S. and Senthilkumar, T., Status, challenges and strategies for farm mechanization in India. Agric. Mech. Asia, Africa, Latin America, 2014, 45(4), 43–50

ID: 62414
Title: Quantifying carbon sequestration potential of soils in an agro-ecological region scale
Author: K. Rajan1, P. Raja, D. Dinesh, Sanjeev Kumar, B. P. Bhatt, U. Surendran, Deo Karan and B. P. Bhaskar
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES &EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (8) 1334-1341 (2021)
Subject: Quantifying carbon sequestration potential of soils in an agro-ecological region scale
Keywords: Agro-ecological region, cropping systems, organic carbon stock, recent alluvium, soil quality.
Abstract: Soil potential to store organic carbon was assessed in the hot sub-humid dry Agro-Ecological Region (AER) of the Indo-Gangetic Plains under Recent alluvium of southern Bihar, India. The study was carried out in four prevailing cropping systems, viz. Rice–Wheat–Fallow (R–W–F), Pearl millet–Wheat–Fallow (P–W–F), pigeon pea (monoculture) and vegetable cultivation. Two different recovery factors were used to estimate Total Organic Carbon (TOC), which yielded similar results. The Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) was found highest in pigeon pea-grown soils (69.2 tones ha–1) followed by R–W–F (56.2 tonnes ha–1) and vegetable cultivation (55.8 tonnes ha–1). The lowest SOC stock was found with P–W–F (19.2 tonnes ha–1). The differences in SOC stock between pigeon pea and that of rice–wheat, vegetables and pearl millet–wheat is 13.0, 13.4 and 50.0 t ha–1 respectively, that are the quantity of organic carbon can be sequestered further in these three lands uses from 47.71, 49.12 and 183.50 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere respectively. Highly significant positive correlation of soil qualities parameters such as available nitrogen (r2 = 0.25), copper (r2 = 0.45), zinc (r2 = 0.31) and dehydrogenase activity (r2 = 0.44) were found with SOC stock under the hot, sub-humid, dry, AER of southern Bihar. Similar assessment can be done in any AER and the potential of soils can be identified to increase carbon sequestration from the atmosphere.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Hugelius, G., Strauss, J., Zubrzycki, S., Harden, J. W., Schuur, E. A. G. and Ping, C. L., Estimated stocks of circumpolar permafrost carbon with quantified uncertainty ranges and identified data gaps. Bio geosciences, 2014, 11, 6573–6593. Lindroth, A., Grelle, A. and Moren, A. S., Long-term measurements of boreal forest carbon balance reveal large temperature sensitivity. Global Change Biol., 1998, 4, 443–450
Literature cited 2: Sjögersten, S. and Wookey, P. A., The impact of climate change on ecosystem carbon dynamics at the Scandinavian mountain birch forest – Tundra Heath Ecotone. Ambio, 2009, 38, 1–1. Jungqvist, G., Oni, S. K., Teutschbein, C. and Futter, M. N., Effects of climate change on soil temperature in Swedish boreal forests. PLoS ONE, 2014, 9, e93957.

ID: 62413
Title: Transboundary insects of the current decade: potential of biological control in the Indian context
Author: S. Vennila, Shabistana Nisar and Puran Chandra
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES &EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (8) 1308-1314 (2021)
Subject: Transboundary insects of the current decade: potential of biological control in the Indian context
Keywords: Biological control, collaboration, conservation, transboundary insects.
Abstract: The second decade of the 21 century saw five insects, viz. cassava mealybug Phenacoccus manihoti Matile-Ferrero (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae), desert locust Schistocerca gregaria Forskål (Orthoptera: Acrididae), fall armyworm (FAW; Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), rugose spiraling whitefly, Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and southern American pinworm Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) invading India having crossed international borders. While early warning system along with potential of testing Metarhizium acridum (Green Muscle™) through the Food and Agricultural Organization exists for desert locust, an early importation of parasitoid Anagyrus lopezi De-Santis (Hymenoptera:Encyrtidae) against cassava mealybug is the need of the hour. Documentation of versatile native parasitoids (9), predators (3) and pathogens (6) on FAW implies potential of biological control through conservation and augmentative approaches in maize ecosystems. Fortuitous introduction of Encarsia guadeloupae Viggiani (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) in the late nineties along with an invasive spiralling whitefly Aleurodicus dispersus offering successful biocontrol of rugose spiralling whitefly indicated long-term sustenance of parasitoids in perennial plantations. Nevertheless, the internally feeding invasive southern American pinworm in open fields and protected tomato cultivation need biological products as a component of integrated pest management. A quick response in terms of delimitation and eradication is anticipated for transboundary insects and is only possible through establishment of an operational national digital reporting system with coordination and collaborations of not only all governmental and private stakeholders of plant protection in India, but also forging cooperation at regional and international levels for timely and effective management of transboundary insects.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: NBAIR Pest Alert, Occurrence of cassava mealybug Phenacoccus manihoti Matile-Ferrero in India. ICAR-NBAIR, Bengaluru, 2020. https://www.nbair.res.in/index.php/node/1260. Locust Watch, Desert locust archives, FAO, Rome, Italy, 2020. http://www.fao.org/ag/locusts/en/archives/archive/index.html.
Literature cited 2: Kalleshwaraswamy, C. M., Asokan, R. and Mahadevaswamy, H. M. M., First record of invasive fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on rice (Oryza sativa) from India. J. Entomol. Zool. Stud., 2019, 7, 332–337. Suby, S. B. et al., Invasion of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in India: nature, distribution, management and potential impact. Curr. Sci., 2020, 119, 44–51.

ID: 62412
Title: Can crop diversification be widely adopted to solve the water crisis in Punjab?
Author: Shruti Bhogal and Kamal Vatta
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES &EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (8) 1303-1307 (2021)
Subject: Can crop diversification be widely adopted to solve the water crisis in Punjab?
Keywords: Agricultural sustainability, crop diversification, paddy, policy measures, water crisis
Abstract: The disquieting water crisis in Punjab – the food bowl of India – is threatening its agricultural sustainability, necessitating effectuation of pragmatic policy measures. Conventional agricultural practices, especially the paddy–wheat (highly water-intensive crops) cropping system, are Fuelling the growing water challenges. Large-scale crop diversification is being recommended by experts for the past four decades as one of the most potent solutions for attaining water and agricultural sustainability. Despite its merits, crop diversification in the state could not bear fruits and remains almost inconclusive. The present article collates empirical studies to ascertain handicaps associated with crop diversification in Punjab for framing an indefectible crop diversification policy. Such a policy cannot be implemented in isolation but requires multifaceted policy action with the Government playing a key role.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Baumgartner, T. and Pahl-Wostl, C., UN – Water and its role in global water governance. Ecol. Soc., 2013, 18(3), 3. WWAP, The United Nations World Water Development Report, Water for a sustainable world, UNESCO, Paris, 2015.
Literature cited 2: WWC, Sharing water, 8th World Water Forum, Brasilia 2018, World Water Council, Brazil, 2018. Weigleb, V. and Bruns, A., What is driving the water-energy-food nexus? Discourses, knowledge, and politics of an emerging resource governance concept. Front. Environ. Sci., 2018; https:// doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2018.00128 (accessed on 19 September 2020)

ID: 62411
Title: The pathways to manage air pollution: an ontological assessment of the National Clean Air Programme 2019, India
Author: Munikrishnappa Anilkumar, Shwetmala Kashyap, Susanna G. Mitra, Devina Neogi, Arkalgud Ramaprasad, Anupama Sanjeev, Chetan Singai, S. D. Sreeganga and Nibras K. Thodika
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES &EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (8) 1295-1302 (2021)
Subject: The pathways to manage air pollution: an ontological assessment of the National Clean Air Programme 2019, India
Keywords: Air pollution, ontological assessment, National Clean Air Programme, 2019, India t
Abstract: Any system for managing air pollution is complex and calls for systematic and systemic policies. The air quality in different parts of India is changing due to the increase in population and changes in lifestyle. The consequent air pollution is affecting the health of the population, environment and economy. Over the past five decades, significant advances in our understanding of air pollution through empirical and theoretical research on social and technical issues have resulted in opportunities to understand and manage the complete system. Such a system should ideally manage the full lifecycle of generation, emission, propagation, filtration, absorption and elimination of air pollution. However, air pollution management has commonly focused on only a part of the problem based on the immediate requirements, thus missing the big picture. The challenge is to address the problem systemically using a comprehensive framework of air pollution management.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Malone, D. W., Modeling air pollution control as a large scale, complex system. Socioecon. Plann. Sci., 1972, 6, 69–85. Ganguli, A., Addressing the challenge of air pollution in India, World Health Organization, Geneva, 2015.
Literature cited 2: Ramaprasad, A. and Syn, T., Ontological meta – analysis and synthesis. Commun. Assoc. Inf. Syst., 2015, 37, 138–153. Ramaprasad, A. and Syn, T., Design thinking and evaluation using an ontology. In Design Science: Perspectives from Europe (eds Helfert, M., Donnellan, B. and Kenneally, J.), Springer, Cham, 2014, pp. 63–74

ID: 62410
Title: Vachellia nilotica subsp. cupressiformis – status and conservation approach of an endemic agroforestry tree in Rajasthan
Author: A Keerthika, A.K Shukla,Deepak Kumar ,Gupta,
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES &EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (8) 1293-1294 (2021)
Subject: Vachellia nilotica subsp. cupressiformis – status and conservation approach of an endemic agroforestry tree in Rajasthan
Keywords: Vachellia nilotica, status and conservation, endemic agroforestry tree, Rajasthan
Abstract: The arid zone of India is the most fragile ecosystem facing extreme droughts, erratic and high-intensity rainfall, seasonal variations in climatic pattern, abundance of solar energy and high evapotranspiration. The arid region is spread over 38.7 m ha, while the semi-arid region accounts for 34% of the total land area. In recent decades, the semi-arid region has expanded by 10%. The newly formed semi-arid region in North India alone accounts for 4% of reduction in rainfall and increased evapotranspiration has led to increased aridity.Under such adverse situations, traditional agroforestry plays an important role in providing food, fodder, fruits, fuel, etc. and also provides security to the local people and animals/livestock during extreme drought conditions. The traditional agroforestry system is a permanent feature of a landscape, where farmers without disturbing the natural tree component, integrate crops, grasses and animals.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Ramarao, M. V. S., Sanjay, J., Krishnan, R., Mujumdar, M., Bazaz, A. and Revi, A., Theor. Appl. Climatol., 2019, 136, 693–702 Tewari, J. C., Ram, M., Roy, M. M. and Dagar, J. C., In Agroforestry Systems in India: Livelihood Security & Ecosystem Services (eds Dagar, J. C. et al.), Advances in Agroforestry, 2006, pp. 155– 185.
Literature cited 2: Cooke, T., Flora of the Presidency of Bombay, 1903, vol. 1, pp. 443–444. Hill, A. F., Bot. Mus. Leafl. Harvard Univ., 1940, 8, 94–100

ID: 62409
Title: Sustenance of mangroves on the west coast of Kerala
Author: S. Sreeram A. Arunprasath V. Sankara VeL
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES &EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (8) 1281-1281 (2021)
Subject: Sustenance of mangroves on the west coast of Kerala
Keywords: Sustenance of mangroves, West coast of Kerala
Abstract: Mangroves are important halophytic plant communities, mainly consisting of shrubs or small trees growing along the coastal areas or brackish waters. Mangroves are well-known for its quintessential role in sustaining the marine ecosystem. These nature’s walls of the sea are well known for its brilliant salt filtration system and sophisticated root system to tolerate the salt–water interaction and wave action. But these nature’s wonders are facing extreme degradation due to human activities and accumulation of toxic industrial effluents. The main focus of the present study was on the Cochin Islands of Ernakulam district of Kerala, a major port city in the country on the west-coast of Kerala bordering the Laccadive Sea. Cochin has a very ancient history as it was one of the most important spice trading hubs of India in the 14th century. An island in the vicinity of the sea is losing prima face cover of the mangroves.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Vidyasagaran, K. and Madhusoodanan, V. K., J. Biodivers. Environ. Sci., 2014, 4(5), 38–45 Swathi, E., The Indian Express, 2005
Literature cited 2: Putz, F. E. and Chan, H. T., For. Ecol. Manage., 1986, 17(2–3), 211–230. Sudhir, S. and Arunprasath, A., Arabian J. Med. Aromat. Plants, 2020, 17(2), 17–28

ID: 62408
Title: Assessment of tank sediments in terms of plant nutrients equivalent: an approach towards agricultural sustainability
Author: Bisweswar Gorain,V.R.Ramakrishna Parama and Srijita Paul
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES &EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (7) 1250-1254 (2022)
Subject: Assessment of tank sediments in terms of plant nutrients equivalent: an approach towards agricultural sustainability
Keywords: Food security, heavy metals, plant nutrients, surface-waterrun-off,sustainable agriculture, tank sediments
Abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the suitability of lake sediments of Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, as a nutrient source for agricultural crop production. The sediments were analysed for macro-and micro-nutrients and toxic heavy metals using standard procedures. The results showed high stocks of N, P, and K and low heavy metal concentration in the upper 15 cm depth of lake sediments, implying their suitability as a nutrient alternative. This will reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers, improve soil health and also increase water storage capacity in the lakes, and thus promote sustainable agricultural production.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Jumbe, A.S., Nandini, N. and Tandon, S., Bangalore lakes-issues and perspectives on pollution, restoration and management. In Proceedings of the 12th World Lake Conference, Jaipur, 2007. Lokeshwari, H. and Chandrappa, G.T., Impact of Heavy metal contamination of Bellandur lake on soil and cultivated vegetation. Curr. Sci., 2006, 91 (5), 622-627.
Literature cited 2: Anon., Monitoring and analysis of tanks and lakes of Bangalore. In Annual Report of Karnataka State Pollution Control Board-Research and Developemnt Wing Publication,2001. Anon, Vision for village tanks of Tamil Nadu. In Proceedings of the Developemnt of Humane Action (DHAN Foundation), Madurai, 2004, pp.1-34.