Arid Tracts Research Articles

Response of Dragon Fruit (Hylocereus sp.) Cuttings to Different Plant Growth Regulators.

Dragon fruit (Hylocereus sp.) is an exotic crop with a great potential for its cultivation in semi arid tracts throughout India. Its planting is mainly confined to harsh climates and degraded lands facing challenges in its establishment. Hence, availability of quality planting material is essential for attaining success. Due to long juvenile phase of the sexually propagated seedlings it can be propagated asexually by stem cuttings but proper rooting is not possible without exogenous auxin application. Hence, during 2022-2023 a research was carried out at the Horticultural Experimental area of Khalsa College, Amritsar to standardize the concentration of plant growth regulators viz. IBA, NAA and PHB for rooting and success rate in stem cuttings comprising of sixteen treatments with three replications arranged in randomized block design. The results revealed that the stem cuttings treated with IBA 4000 ppm proved to be superior for the sprouting and survival of the cuttings resulting in the improved vegetative growth with profuse, longer, thicker and the heaviest roots. Hence, the cutting treatment of IBA 4000 ppm can be proposed for dragon fruit plant propagation to meet the market demand in India.

Evaluation of Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp.] Germplasm against Pulse Beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis (L.) and Correlation with Morphological Seed Characters

Background: In India, cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) is a minor pulse and is cultivated mainly in arid and semi arid tracts. Cowpea grains are often completely destroyed by bruchids both quantitatively and qualitatively making them unfit for planting, marketing and human consumption. Therefore, development and use of tolerant/resistant cowpea cultivars offer a simple, cheap and attractive way for reducing bruchids damage. Hence, the present study was aimed to identify new sources of insect resistant traits against Callosobruchus chinensis in cowpea germplasm so as to incorporate them in cowpea crop improvement programmes to evolve resistant or tolerant varieties against bruchids. Methods: Twenty seven cowpea genotypes were evaluated for resistance or susceptibility to pulse beetle, C. chinensis (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) using no-choice artificial conditions. Various parameters viz., oviposition, adult emergence/20 seeds, percent adult emergence, mean developmental period, per cent seed weight loss and growth index were determined for each genotype. Result: Significant differences were observed among cowpea accessions in terms of growth index (GI) of bruchid. Based on GI, one accession (IC 257844) was found moderately resistant (MR). Although, cowpea accessions showed variation in physical seed characters viz., seed coat colour, shape, seed length, seed width, seed thickness and 100 seed weight, they could not exert significant influence on any of the insect biological characters. Based on the study, it was demonstrated that IC 257844 (categorized as moderately resistant) could be used as potential donor for the development of bruchid tolerant cultivars.

​Impact of Extreme Hot Environmental Temperature Period on Marker Enzymes of Carbohydrate Metabolism in Non-descript Sheep from Arid Tracts of Rajasthan

Background: The present investigation was envisaged to find out the impact of extreme hot environmental temperature period (ETP) on marker enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism in male and female non-descript sheep of various age groups i.e. 4 to 13 months from arid tracts of Rajasthan. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) marker enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism were considered for study. Methods: During the period October 2016-June 2017 blood samples were collected to harvest sera for spectrophotometric method from 240 healthy animals selected from private slaughter house during moderate and extreme hot environmental temperature periods (ETPs). The mean values of markers attained during moderate ETP were reckoned as the control. It was 10.00 ± 0.10 UL-1 and 42.00±1.00 respectively. Conclusion: The mean value of MDH was significantly (p≤0.05) higher while G-6-PDH significantly (p≤0.05) lowers during extreme hot temperature in comparison to moderate period. Therefore, it could be concluded that variations in enzyme markers were associated with changes in environmental temperatures. Probably ETP were able to produce a profound effect on carbohydrate metabolism in sheep. Therfore it can be suggested that during the period of extreme temperature balanced ration must be provided to the animal along with proper management to decrease the severity of temperature impact.

English

English

Micromorphology, clay mineralogy, and geochemistry of calcic-soils from western Thar Desert: Implications for origin of palygorskite and southwestern monsoonal fluctuations over the last 30 ka

The Thar desert with intense aeolian activity and calcrete formation is one of the hottest arid regions of the world. Little is known about the formation of calcic soils with a large amount of palygorskite in the western Thar. In this study, we have used microscopy, sub-microscopy, clay mineralogy, and geochemistry of three calcic soils from western Thar to understand the pedogenesis in response to fluctuating southwestern monsoon over the last 30ka. Thin sections of the soils show a dominance of weakly developed pedofeatures with powdery to well-indurated pedogenic calcium carbonate that influenced weathering of primary mineral grains. Sub-microscopy of the calcretes shows a large amount of fibrous palygorskite in pore spaces of micritic and sparitic nodules. XRD of the total clay (<2μm) and fine clay (<0.2μm) fractions of the soils shows the dominance of smectite, palygorskite, chlorite, mica, kaolinite, and small amounts of quartz and feldspar. Palygorskite occurring in Bw, Bss, Bwk, and BC horizons of these calcic-soils is related to non-pedogenic processes. Presence of only weak pedogenesis, lithological discontinuities, varying geochemical composition, and silt size palygorskite suggest its inheritance from marine sedimentary rocks of the area. It is attributed to rapid aggradation of palygorskite bearing aeolian sedimentary flux during increased aridity and weakening of the southwestern monsoon over the last 30ka. A decrease or complete absence of palygorskite in Btk horizon and sediments is related to intervening wetter conditions during MIS3-MIS1 stages. The present study of the palygorskite bearing calcic soils from western Thar could be useful to explain the possible mechanism for ongoing desertification and formation of calcrete in other arid tracts of the world.

A Novel Approach to Detect Cellular Signals of Oxidative Stress Due to Extreme Environmental Temperatures in Backyard Broiler from Arid Tracts in India

A Novel Approach to Detect Cellular Signals of Oxidative Stress Due to Extreme Environmental Temperatures in Backyard Broiler from Arid Tracts in India

Antifeedant Activity of Capparis decidua Extracts Against Streblote siva Lefbvre (Lasiocampidae: Lepidoptera)

:Antifeedant activity of Capparis decidua extracts has been studied against a ployphagous lasiocampid moth Streblote (=Taragama) siva commonly known as Babul defoliator and infesting a number of tree species throughout the arid tracts of Indian Thar Desert. Wood, bark, branch and fruits of C. decidua collected from suburbs of Jodhpur (Rajasthan, India) were extracted with petroleum ether and chloroform and extractive values were determined. All extracts were tested at 0.01, 0.05 and 0.1 % concentrations for their antifeedant efficacy against S. siva. Significant antifeedant activity against the moth was recorded at 1 % concentration of the all the extracts. Seed extract however have shown the highest antifeedant activity.

Reflectance spectroscopic approach for estimation of soil properties in hot arid western Rajasthan, India

Periodic and regular assessment of land degradation in arid regions of the world is essential for implementing suitable corrective measures in time. Assessment of soil properties based on soil sampling from hot arid tracts followed by laboratory analysis is a formidable task. Reflectance spectroscopy appears to be an emerging technology for the assessment of soils in extreme environment. In this study, soil spectral library of 138 soil samples from hot arid western Rajasthan have been created in visible, near-infrared and short wave infrared (350–2500 nm) region of the electromagnetic spectrum along with the measurements of basic soil properties. Further, spectral reflectance-based algorithms have been developed for rapid assessment of soil resources of arid regions. Results showed that sand and clay content may be satisfactorily estimated from linear models involving principal components (PCs) or derived band reflectance as the input variables (R 2 = 0.41–0.43). Organic carbon (OC) content of soil was also found satisfactorily correlated with spectral data (R 2 = 0.27). Derived band reflectance corresponding to Operational Land Imager bands of Landsat-8 has been found best to predict soil properties. Soil OC content has been found to be best estimated by derived spectral band data corresponding to spectral bands of IRS-P6 satellite. Partial least square regression-based models were found even better than the PCs-based and band reflectance-based multiple regression models for estimating soil properties. Thus, the present study indicates that soil spectral reflectance data captured by remote sensing satellites may have a great potential for rapid assessment of soil resources in arid regions.

Production and Statistical Optimization of Oxytetracycline from Streptomyces rimosus NCIM 2213 using a New Cellulosic Substrate, Prosopis juliflora

Prosopis juliflora is a drought-resistant evergreen spiny tree that grows in semi-arid and arid tracts of tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. Dry pods of P. juliflora are a rich source of carbon (40% total sugar) and nitrogen (15% of total nitrogen) and so can be considered as a good substrate for the microbial growth. The present study was mainly focused on the utilization of these pods for the production and statistical optimization of oxytetracycline (OTC) from Streptomyces rimosus NCIM 2213 under SSF. The spectral characterization and chemical color reactions of purified OTC by UV, FTIR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and HPLC revealed that the structure was homologous to a standard sample. A central composite design with 26 trails yielded the following critical values of supplements to be added to the dry pods: maltose (0.125 g/gds), Inoculum size (0.617 mL/gds), CaCO3 (0.0026 g/gds), and moisture content (74.87%) with the maximum OTC yield 5.02 mg/gds.

Power Pursuits: Interstate Systems in Asia

Examining the patterns of evolution of interstate systems in Asia, this article argues that the relationship of state-builders to nomads stood in much of continental Asia stood in sharp contrast to the relationships between rulers and mercantile-financial elites in Europe. Due to the productivity of wet-rice economies, continental Asian rulers were not dependent on merchants and bankers to raise armies to wage war or suppress rebellions unlike their European counterparts. Hence they had no need to grant bankers and merchants concessions, especially monopolies which is how large volumes of capital are accumulated. Geographic conditions however meant that while the lack of internal frontiers meant that large continental-sized states could be created in China, this was not possible in the Indian subcontinent where a more chequered equilibrium where nomads enjoyed a military advantage in arid and semi-arid tracts meant that trans-subcontinental polities enjoyed only a fleeting existence. In mainland southeast Asia, where dense forests and a difficult terrain insulated the region from nomadic conquests, a third variant of interstate relations emerged.

Ambience-associated variation in serum biomarkers of oxidative stress in donkeys of arid tracts in India

An investigation was carried out in donkeys to discover serum biomarkers of oxidative stress during moderate and extremely hot conditions. Serum biomarkers included vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, glutathione, catalase, superoxide dismutase, monoamine oxidase, glutathione reductase, xanthine oxidase, oxidase and peroxidase. These findings were compared with those obtained during the moderate conditions that served as a control. Serum vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E and glutathione activity decreased significantly during hot conditions, while serum catalase, superoxide dismutase, monoamine oxidase, glutathione reductase, xanthine oxidase, oxidase and peroxidase activities all increased significantly. It was concluded that hot ambient stress induced marked changes in the levels of biomarkers in the serum of donkeys, indicating oxidative stress.

HPTLC analysis of guggulsterone isomers in Commiphora wightii (Arn.) Bhandari: an endangered oleo-gum resin species heading towards extinction

The oleo-gum resin of Commiphora wightii (Arn.) Bhandari, a pharmacologically important balsamiferous woody shrub, has been used in treating various ailments and disorders since ancient times (2000 B.C.) due to the presence of steroidal compound guggulsterone. Two bioactive isomers of guggulsterone, E and Z, are responsible for lipid- and cholesterol-lowering and anti-cancerous activities. Further, guggul has been approved as food supplement by US-FDA as well as Council of Europe. Indiscriminate harvest of C. wightii from wild with negligible conservation efforts has lead to its inclusion in IUCN assemblage of endangered plant species. For identification of high guggulsterone yielding ecotypes of C. wightii, using high-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) analysis, stem samples were collected from 50 plants from eleven locations in arid tracts of Haryana, Gujarat and Rajasthan. Dried, powdered material was subjected to extraction with petroleum ether using soxhlet apparatus. Samples were spotted on precoated activated silica plates (60F-254) and were developed using toluene–acetone (9:1 v/v) as mobile phase. The analysis was carried out in the absorbance mode at 250 nm using HPTLC scanner. The regression analysis data for the calibration plots for E and Z guggulsterone showed good linear relationship with R2 = 1 and 0.9897, respectively. Highest concentration of guggulsterone E (284 μg/g dry wt) was found in the accession collected from Palana, Bikaner whereas highest guggulsterone Z concentration (89.5 μg/g dry wt) was found in the accession collected from CAZRI, Jodhpur.

Spectral vegetation indices performance evaluated for Cholistan Desert

To enhance the vegetation signal in remotely sensed data and provide an approximate measure of live green vegetation, a number of spectral vegetation indices have been developed to estimate biophysical parameters of vegetation. The sensitivity of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) to the soil background and atmospheric effects has generated an increasing interest in the development of new indices. The modified soil-adjusted vegetation index (MSAVI) and its later revision, MSAVI2, are soil-adjusted vegetation indices that seek to address some of the limitations of NDVI when applied to areas with a high degree of exposed soil surface because the reflectance of light in the red and near-infrared (NIR) spectra can influence vegetation index values. The soil-adjusted vegetation index (SAVI) was developed as a modification ofthe NDVI to correct for the influence of soil brightness when vegetative cover is low. The problem with the SAVI is that it required specifying the soil-brightness correction factorL through trial-and-error based on the amount of vegetation. This article focuses on testing and comparing the sensitivity of vegetation indices to soil background effects. Five vegetation indices; NDVI, transformed normalized difference vegetation index (TNDVI), enhanced vegetation index (EVI), SAVI and MSAVI2 were quantitatively evaluated using Landsat ETM+ dataset over the Cholistan Desert to find the best vegetation index for use in sparsely vegetated semi-arid and arid tracts of Pakistan. Key words: Atmospheric effects, Cholistan, Landsat ETM+, Remote sensing, Spectral vegetation indices.

Use of prolactin as an indicator of stress in Marwari sheep from arid tracts in India

Serum prolactin (PRL) and cortisol levels were determined in sheep of the Marwari breed from arid tracts in Rajasthan state, India to assess the role of serum PRL as an indicator of stress. Serum levels of PRL and cortisol were determined by radioimmunoassay in healthy and affected sheep (haemonchus infected, pneumonia affected, having enterotoxaemia and drought affected). The affected group showed significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher levels of serum PRL and cortisol when compared to the healthy group. The mean rise in PRL was 4.72 times, whereas cortisol levels were 4.28 times higher. In the affected group, a significant (p ≤ 0.05) correlation was observed between the values of serum PRL and cortisol. A multiple fold rise in serum PRL clearly suggested that it can be used as an indicator of stress in different pathologies in sheep.

Micronutrients distribution in salt-affected soils of the Punjab in relation to soil properties

Salt-affected soils in arid and semi-arid tracts of the Indian Punjab are prone to deficiency of micronutrients. Nine profiles from alluvial terraces, sand dunes and palaeochannels in the southwestern Punjab were investigated for total and diethylenetriamine-penta-acetic acid (DTPA) extractable Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe. Soil physiography exerted significant influence on the spatial distribution of micronutrients. Total contents varied from 20–78 for Zn, 8–32 for Cu, and 88–466 mg kg−1 for Mn and 0.82–2.53% for Fe. DTPA-extractable contents varied from 0.10–0.98 for Zn, 0.14–1.02 for Cu, 0.54–13.02 for Fe and 0.82–9.4 mg kg−1 for Mn. Total contents were higher in fine-textured soil than in coarse-textured soils. Concentration of micronutrients in the surface layer was low and there occurred more accumulation in the Cambic horizon. Organic carbon, pH, clay, silt and calcium carbonate exerted strong influence on the distribution of micronutrients. DTPA extractable Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe increased with increasing organic carbon but decreased with increase in pH and calcium carbonate content. Total micronutrient contents increased with increase in clay, silt and calcium carbonate contents and decreased with increase in sand content.

Mesquite (Prosopis juliflora) Pods as a Feed Resource for Livestock - A Review -

Mesquite or Vilayati babul (Prosopis juliflora) is a drought resistant, evergreen, spiny tree with drooping branches and a deep laterally spreading root system. It grows in semi-arid and arid tracts of tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world and is spreading because the leaves are unpalatable and animals do not digest its seed. The mesquite has become a major nuisance; cutting or pruning its branches to form a canopy would provide shade for travelers, aid harvesting of pods, as well as make available wood for fuel. An average plant starts fruiting by 3-4 years of age and yields annually 10-50 kg pods/ tree, which can be collected from May-June and September-October. Availability of pods worldwide is estimated to be about 2-4 million metric tonnes. Ripe pods are highly palatable; on dry matter basis they contain 12% crude protein, 15% free sugar, a moderate level of digestible crude protein (7% DCP) with a high level of energy (75% TDN). The pods contain low tannin levels below those toxic to animals. Seeds contain 31-37% protein; pods should be finely ground before feeding to facilitate utilization of the seeds. Mesquite pods could replace costlier feed ingredients such as grain and bran contributing 10-50% of the diet. Phosphorus supplements need to be added when mesquite pod, exceeds 20% of animals' diet.

Water consumption of cotton in the semi arid tracts of India

In the present study, evapotranspiration and other agrometeorological data for three different locations, viz., Akola. Bellary and Kovilpatti have been utilized to understand consumptive use and related aspects of cotton. Ratios of evapotranspiration to potential evapotranspiration (ET/PET) and evapotranspiration to total shortwave radiation (ET/Rs) increase gradually as the vegetative cover develops and shows year to year variation at same location. The energy summation indices have been worked out for all the three stations which indicate that the total yields are more dependent on consumptive water use by crop rather than energy summation indices.. The water use efficiency (WUE) of cotton crop also reveals wide variations in time and space.

Palaeohydrology and Bedrock Weathering in the Arid Tracts of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan

Palaeohydrology and Bedrock Weathering in the Arid Tracts of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan

Land use indicators of a watershed in arid region, western Rajasthan using Remote Sensing and GIS

The vegetation dynamics and land use/land cover types of Birantiya Kalan watershed located in the arid tracts of western Rajasthan have been characterized and evaluated using Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS). The watershed under study falls in the transitional plain of Luni Basin and is characterized by Aravali ranges in the eastern half and vast alluvial plains in the west. The land use/land cover types, as identified are cropland, fallow, forest, land with scrub, land without scrub, sandy area and the water body. Land with scrub occupied maximum area (39% area of the watershed) in 1996 in place of crop land which was dominant (43% of total area) in the year 1988. During eight years period, seasonal fallow land increased significantly and the areal extent of water body decreased to almost half. Vegetation vigour types have been classified into very poor, poor. moderate, good and very good categories. Moderate vigour type reduced from 62 to 27% and poor type increased from 34 to 68% during the period 1988 to 1996. Other vegetation vigour types have not shown any significant changes. To quantify the changes over the years in both vegetation and land use/land cover, weightages have been given to each type and composite values of both vegetation vigour and land use types for 1996 and 1988 have been calculated. It has been observed that the ratio for vegetation vigour has been found to be 0.85 showing that the overall vegetation have not improved after the treatment. The ratio for land use is found to be 1.01, which indicates negligible change in land use.

Pedogenesis in relation to physiography in semiarid and arid tracts of Punjab, India

Abstract Morphological, physical, and chemical characteristics of soils developed in different physiographic units in the Punjab state (northwest India) revealed three distinct stages of pedogenic development: A‐C, A‐(Bw)‐C, and A‐Bt‐C profiles. The young and stratified soils from unstable landforms (sandbars, rivulets, floodplains, and foothills) representing newer alluvium are classified as Typic Ustipsamments or Typic Ustifluvents. The severely eroded and shallow soils of foothills are classified as Typic Ustorthents. The soils developed on relatively stable landforms (alluvial terraces, old channel fill, and interdunal areas) show development of cambic or structural B horizon and are classified as Ustochreptic Camborthids, Typic Ustochrepts, and Aquic Ustochrepts, depending on the prevailing climatic and drainage conditions. Contrary to the above, the soils formed on old alluvial terraces show the development of argillic (Bt) horizons. These soils are classified as Typic Haplustalfs. Genesis of these ...