Ajmer District Research Articles

Control of malnutrition among adolescent through intervention of 4 months residential camp

Malnutrition is one of the greatest challenges that India is facing today. Some estimates indicate that India loses as much as $35 billion every year because of the long-term impacts of malnutrition among the Indian population. Despite many government initiatives, India's children still struggle to get enough nutritious food to eat. The present study was undertaken with the objective of controlling malnutrition through intervention of nutritive diet in the residential camp of 4 months. The study was undertaken in Pisangan block of Ajmer district of Rajasthan. The sample of the study was 50 adolescent girls, who were attending the 4 months residential camp organized by Doosra Dashak. All the respondents from deprived community and purposively selected for the study. For the assessment of nutritional status height and weight of the respondents were recorded at the time of joining the camp and leaving the camp. In between same measurement were also recorded monthly. Body mass index was calculated and on this basis malnourished respondents were labeled. The result of the study shows that there was marked improvement in the nutritional status of adolescent girls after completion of such intervention of nutritive diet/ balanced diet for 4 months residential camp. The improvement was higher among severely malnourished adolescents as compare to those who were in normal nutritional status after the intervention of nutritive diet for 4 months residential camp.

Migratory sheep production system and its impact on livelihood security of sheep households in Ajmer district of Rajasthan

Migratory sheep production system and its impact on livelihood security of sheep households in Ajmer district of Rajasthan

English

Isabgol (Plantago ovata Forks.) is one of the important cash crops in arid and semi-arid regions of India. The husk of Isabgol seeds are primarily used as laxative in medicinal preparations. The cultivation of Isabgol crop is very much dependent on soils and weather conditions as this crop is highly susceptible to many biotic and abiotic stress parameters. Soil microbial population is involved in many direct and indirect interactions with crop plants. The type of microbes present in the soils also affects the plant health. Soil samples from the rhizospheric zone of the plants were collected from Barmer, Jalore and Ajmer Districts of Rajasthan State in western arid region of India. The soil EC and pH (1:2.5) recorded were in the range of 0.12 to 0.46 dS/m and 7.4 to 8.9, respectively, depicting neutral to alkaline soils, the macro nutrient viz; N, P, K were found to be in the range of 128.0 to 192.54, 19.4 to 80.4 and 149.8 to 338.8 kg/ha, respectively. The DTPA extractable micronutrients Cu, Zn, Mn and Fe were in the range of 0.29 to 3.50, 0.26 to 1.5, 0.51 to 4.51 and 1.0 to 5.38 ppm, respectively, in the soil samples of Isabgol growing regions of Rajasthan. Total viable count (TVC) gives a quantitative idea about the presence of microorganism such as bacteria and fungi in samples. The total bacterial count of soil microorganisms varied from 0.8x107 to 1.96x107 cfu/g whereas, total fungal count varied from 1.52x106 to 2.85x106 cfu/g. Beneficial microorganism population in terms of total Azotobacter count (0.1x105 to 1.0 x105 ) psuedomonads counts (3.33x105 to 5.8x105 cfu/g) and phosphate solubilizing bacterial count (0.1x103 to 1.0x103 cfu/g) varied highly in different soils. Key words: Isabgol (Plantago ovata Forks.), bacterial count, fungal count, N, P, K, macronutrients, micronutrients.

Remote Sensing Based Analysis of the Role of Land Use/Land Cover on Surface Temperature and Temporal Changes in Temperature; a Case Study of Ajmer District, Rajasthan

Abstract. An attempt has been made in this research to analyze temporal variations in surface temperature in Ajmer District Rajasthan. The research is carried out to assess the relationship between the land surface temperatures (LST) and land cover (LC) changes both in quantitative and qualitative ways in Ajmer District area using Landsat TM/ETM+ data over the period 1989 to 2013.in this period we used three temporal TM/ETM data 1989, 2001 and 2013. Remote sensing of Land surface temperature (LST) has traditionally used the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) as the indicator of vegetation abundance to estimate the land surface temperature (LST)–vegetation relationship. Unsupervised classification methods have been taken to prepare the LC map. LST is derived from the thermal band of Landsat TM/ETM+ using the calibration of spectral radiance and emissivity correction of remote sensing. NDVI is derived from the NIR & RED Band using image enhancement technique (Indices). Arc-GIS have been utilized for data visualization. This procedure allowed analyzing whether LULC classes match LST classes. However, the results of such overlaying are hard to interpret. LST and LULC maps of these areas give the understanding on how the classes and corresponding LST have changed from one date to the other. Another option is to collect statistical data. it was impossible to calculate linear regression between LULC map and LST map. A solution to that matter is to use Normalized Vegetation Index (NDVI) instead of LULC classification result.

Site Suitability Analysis of Water Harvesting Structures Using Remote Sensing and GIS – A Case Study of Pisangan Watershed, Ajmer District, Rajasthan

Abstract. Rajasthan is a region with very limited water resources. Water is the most crucial for maintaining an environment and ecosystem conducive to sustaining all forms of life. The principle of watershed management is the proper management of all the precipitation by the way of collection, storage and efficient utilization of runoff water and to recharge the ground water. The present study aim's to identify suitable zones for water harvesting structures in Pisangan watershed of Ajmer district, Rajasthan by using Geographic Information System (GIS) and Multi Criteria Evaluation (MSE). Multi criteria evaluation is carried out in Geographic Information system to help the decision makers in determining suitable zones for water harvesting structures based on the physical characteristics of the watershed. Different layers which were taken into account for multi criteria evaluation are; Soil texture, slope, rainfall data (2000–2012), land use/cover, geomorphology, lithology, lineaments, drainage network. The soil conservation service model was used to estimate the runoff depth of the study area Analytical Hierarchy Processes (AHP) is used to find suitable water harvesting structures on the basis of rainfall. Produced suitability map will help in the selection of harvesting structures such as percolation tanks, storage tank, check dams and stop dams.

Road Traffic Accident Analysis of Ajmer City Using Remote Sensing and GIS Technology

Abstract. With advancement in technology, new and sophisticated models of vehicle are available and their numbers are increasing day by day. A traffic accident has multi-facet characteristics associated with it. In India 93% of crashes occur due to Human induced factor (wholly or partly). For proper traffic accident analysis use of GIS technology has become an inevitable tool. The traditional accident database is a summary spreadsheet format using codes and mileposts to denote location, type and severity of accidents. Geo-referenced accident database is location-referenced. It incorporates a GIS graphical interface with the accident information to allow for query searches on various accident attributes. Ajmer city, headquarter of Ajmer district, Rajasthan has been selected as the study area. According to Police records, 1531 accidents occur during 2009–2013. Maximum accident occurs in 2009 and the maximum death in 2013. Cars, jeeps, auto, pickup and tempo are mostly responsible for accidents and that the occurrence of accidents is mostly concentrated between 4PM to 10PM. GIS has proved to be a good tool for analyzing multifaceted nature of accidents. While road safety is a critical issue, yet it is handled in an adhoc manner. This Study is a demonstration of application of GIS for developing an efficient database on road accidents taking Ajmer City as a study. If such type of database is developed for other cities, a proper analysis of accidents can be undertaken and suitable management strategies for traffic regulation can be successfully proposed.

Hydrochemical Appraisal and Geochemical Evolution of Groundwater with Special Reference to Nitrate Contamination in Aquifers of a Semi-Arid Terrain of NW India

Hydrochemical characteristics of 85 groundwater samples collected from the semi-arid terrain of Ajmer district of Rajasthan state, India, during pre-monsoon season, indicate generally hard-to-very hard, fresh-to-brackish, alkaline and medium-to-high saline waters with the dominance of Na–Cl, Na–HCO\(_{3}\) and mixed water types. Hydrofacies and statistical analysis reveals that the dominant processes controlling the chemistry of groundwater are evaporation, salinisation, mineral precipitation and dissolution, ion exchange and anthropogenic activity. The groundwater quality is poor compared to the drinking water specifications of Bureau of Indian Standards and significant spatial variability exists in nitrate concentration. Nitrate content, high in groundwater samples of hard rock areas, shows negative correlation with well depth due to denitrification processes at higher depth. The nitrate content is also reduced with an increase in distance from ridges and pediments, particularly along rivers due to dilution effect. Domestic sewerage and industrial wastes aggravated by fertilizer inputs are responsible for nitrate contamination in the study area. Bivariate plots of ions, correlation, and factor analysis support the role of anthropogenic activities influencing the nitrate contamination of groundwater.

Geochemistry of Pegmatites from South Delhi Fold Belt: A Case Study from Rajgarh, Ajmer District, Rajasthan

On the basis of geochemical studies, pegmatites emplaced in the Rajgarh Group of Delhi Supergroup in the South Delhi Fold Belt have been classified into three groups. They show a variety of rare earth element enrichment patterns, LREE/HREE values and Eu anomalies. The geochemical affinities of these pegmatites suggest their calc-alkaline nature, volcanic arc granite signature in tectonic discrimination diagrams (Nb vs Y and Rb vs Nb + Y) and a probable S-type parentage as inferred from their high A/CNK value, peraluminous character, presence of high normative corundum and abundance of garnet and muscovite. These features have been related to subductionrelated processes which might have generated the parent granitic melt forming these pegmatites.

Floristic Diversity Assessment in River Sand Mining near Palri Bhoptan Village, Kisangarh Tehsil, Ajmer District, Rajasthan, India

Floristic Diversity Assessment in River Sand Mining near Palri Bhoptan Village, Kisangarh Tehsil, Ajmer District, Rajasthan, India

A STUDY OF CORRELATION AMONG EMOTIONAL BEHAVIOUR, COMMUNICATION SKILL AND ADJUSTMENT OF STUDENTS ON THE BASE OF SEX DIFFERENCE

This study was carried out on 640 students between 12-16 years age group of Senior Secondary school of Ajmer district is done for the study of correlation among Emotional behavior, Communition skill and Adjustment of students on the base of Male & Female, is revealed for the sample of the purpose of random method. Emotional Behaviour Scale, Communition Skill Scale (created By Scholar) and Adjustment Scale, are used as tools for data collection. T-test and coefficient test of correlaion, statistics mehtod are used for the Analysis of collected data's. A difference is noticed in Emotional Behaviour, Communication Skill and Adjustment of Male and Female school students at the some time, a difference is studied in the relation of Emotional Behaviour and communition skill.

English

Ajmer district is famous for vegetable cultivation and vegetable crops suffer heavy losses due to serious pests during its crop period. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices play a vital role in managing these pests. One of the important mandate of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) is to organise training programme for “In-service personnel” to update them with latest available technologies in the field of Agriculture. Therefore, the present investigation was carried out at KVK, Ajmer with a view to evaluate the effectiveness of in-service training conducted on IPM practices for major crops for the extension personnel. Forty four extension personnel of the Department of Agriculture, Government of Rajasthan have attended this training course in two batches. The data were collected with the help of semi-structured schedule. The schedule was developed with the help of Entomologist of KVK Ajmer and Pathologist of National Research Centre on Seed Spices, (NRCSS) Ajmer. Result revealed that, there was a significant gain in knowledge on IPM by the extension personnel at the end of the training programme as their mean percent score increased from 39.65 to 68.69 with the gain of 29.04 mean percent score. It was also concluded that, the most of the trainees rated the training components excellent. However, some participants have expressed that, the training components viz., participants’ involvement, lodging facilities and level of discussion needed more emphasis. The main suggestion made by the respondents was that the training must be of 5 to 7 days duration. This may be attributed to the fact that, the training programme was need based and conducted in effective manner.   Key words: Integrated Pest Management (IPM), extension personnel, pests, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK).

Diversity Indices and Growth Parameters of Cyanobacteria from Three Lakes of Rajasthan

Twenty three cyanobacterial strains were isolated from alkaline water samples of three aquatic sites (Anasagar, Pushkar lake and Sambhar lake) from Ajmer district of Rajasthan. Microscopic examination showed one colonial, nine heterocystous and the remaining non-heterocystous filamentous forms. Genera wise distribution showed abundance of Nostoc, Phormidium and Plectonema followed by Anabaena and Westiellopsis. Microcystis and Oscillatoria were least abundant. Nostoc and Phormidium showed highest abundance in terms of CFU/mL followed by Anabaena and Plectonema. Pigments (chlorophyll, carotenoids and phycobilins) and N assimilatory enzymes (nitrate reductase and glutamine synthetase) differed significantly amongst the identified cyanobacterial strains.

Characteristics of pegmatoidal granite exposed near Bayalan, Ajmer district, Rajasthan

The study involves the characterization of pegmatoidal granite, southeast of Beawar, Ajmer district, Rajasthan. Earlier researchers had described this granite as part of the BGC, basement to the Bhim Group of the Delhi Super Group rocks. However, the present study indicates that it is younger than the rocks of Bhim Group of South Delhi Fold Belt, into which it is intrusive. The intrusion is structurally controlled and the outcrop pattern is phacolithic. The granite had intruded post-D2 deformation of the Delhi orogeny along the axial planes of D2 folds. The intrusion has also resulted in the formation of a contact aureole about the calc gneisses.

Hydrochemical status of groundwater in district Ajmer (NW India) with reference to fluoride distribution

High fluoride in groundwater has been reported from many parts of India. However, a systematic study is required to understand the behaviour of fluoride in natural water in terms of local hydrogeological setting, climatic conditions and agricultural practices. Present study is an attempt to assess hydrogeochemistry of groundwater in Ajmer district in Rajasthan to understand the fluoride abundance in groundwater and to deduce the chemical parameters responsible for the dissolution activity of fluoride. Ajmer district falls in the semi-arid tract of central Rajasthan and is geologically occupied by Precambrian rocks (granites, pegmatites, gneisses, schists etc) where groundwater occurs under unconfined condition. A total of 153 well-water samples, representing an area of 8481 km2 (further subdivided into eight blocks), were collected and chemically analyzed. The results of chemical analyses (pre-monsoon 2004) show fluoride abundance in the range of 0.12 to 16.9 mg/l with 66% of the samples in excess of permissible limit of 1.5 mg/l.

Fluoride in fractionated soil samples of Ajmer district, Rajasthan.

The natural abundance of fluoride in soils of the Ajmer distict, Rajasthan was examined. From undisturbed soil, the top 15 cm of the profile was examined and the soil split into fractions based on sand, silt and clay particle size. Clay contained a high amount of fluoride, whereas sand and silts are enriched with much less fluoride. The relation between the soil fractions in observed clay fraction fluoride content matched groundwater fluoride variation. However, the enrichment of fluoride material extracted from the largest soil fraction had considerably lower amounts of clay relative to that from the smaller fractions.

Quaternary signatures of paleo-humidity in arid zone, Rajasthan, India

The arid zone of Rajasthan has a humid past. The present communication records provide evidence of paleo-humidity from the Ajmer district in Rajasthan manifested as channel conglomerates and karst development in the marble rocks within the arid landscape, which suggests that a humid phase existed in the Luni Basin during the Quaternary period in Rajasthan. The present find of Quaternary signatures of paleo-humidity suggests that the humid phase in the Thar Desert extended beyond the Saraswati drainage basin up to the Luni basin, covering the entire Trans-Aravalli region.

Alcohol abuse in a rural community in India. Part I: Epidemiological study

By systematic sampling of households after two stage proportionate random sampling of villages, a total of 4670 persons above 15 years of age were selected from the rural areas of Ajmer district in Rajasthan, India, to estimate the prevalence rate of alcohol abuse and to study its socio-demographic correlates (Part I) and the pattern and characteristics of use (Part II, submitted). The data on these aspects were collected through pre-tested questionnaires. The results showed that prevalence of alcohol abuse in the sample was 24.7% (36.1% for males and 13.4% for females) and the percentage of dependents was 3%. Relative risk of alcohol abuse in males was 3.64 with respect to females. Alcohol abuse was found to be significantly associated with religion (higher in Hindus with a relative risk of 8.65 in males and 5.21 in females), marital status (higher in married with a relative risk of 2.51 in males), age (higher in age group more than 20 years with a relative risk of 2.50 in males and 1.63 in females), family structure (higher in nuclear or joint families with a relative risk of 2.88 in males), educational status (higher in illiterates with a relative risk of 1.53 in males) and occupational status (higher in those engaged in agriculture with a relative risk of 1.43 in males and 1.80 in females). It was not significantly associated with per-capita income. These results have been compared with those in similar studies in the country and the possible reasons for differences, if any, have been discussed.

Fission track dating and uranium estimation in pegmatitic minerals of Rajasthan state (India).

Fission track geochronology of muscovite samples collected from some pegmatitic mines of Bhilwara and Ajmer districts of Rajasthan state (India) has been discussed. The ages obtained suggest the occurrence of Delhi Orogenic Cycle as the last major metamorphic activity in the region. The atomic fraction of uranium in muscovite samples is less than 1 p.p.b.

Sero-Epidemiology of Q-Fever in Poultry

The sero-epidemiology of Q-fever was studied by capillary agglutination test at 25 poultry farms in the Nainital and Ajmer districts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Of 589 birds tested, 78 (13.24%) had Q-fever agglutinins (CAT titers 1:8 to 1:64), involving 16 of the farms. There were more sero-reactors in Ajmer (17.56%) than in Nainital (3.35%). The sero-positive reactors were respectively 19.74% and 5.55% among the age groups above and below 6 months. The breed difference and comparatively high infection rates in poultry attendants of a Q-fever-positive farm are discussed.

Fission-track ages and uranium concentration in garnets from Rajasthan, India

Fission-track ages determined from garnets in pegmatite and garnetiferous amphibolite from Bhilwara and Ajmer districts of Rajasthan range from 900 m.y. to 1,370 m.y. They date the time of formation of the pegmatites (about 1,000 m.y. B.P.) and the metamorphism during F 1 (∼1,400 m.y. B.P.) folding in the area. The uranium content of the garnets varies from 1.76 × 10 −8 g/g to 21.4 × 10 −8 g/g.