Canal Banks Research Articles

Vegetation analysis and species diversity of the invasive plant Heliotropium curassavicum growing naturally in heterogeneous habitats

Heliotropium curassavicum is an invasive annual weed plant that spreads quickly, especially on disturbed saline soils and coastal locations in arid and semiarid habitats. This study aimed to assess the vegetation composition of invasive plant H. curassavicum. The soil factors and associated species of this plant were studied in natural coastal desert habitats (northern Nile delta coast) and inland habitats (farrow land and canal bank habitats). The floristic composition revealed the occurence of 109 species (67 annuals, 2 biennials and 40 perennials) belonging to 86 genera and related to 29 families. Asteraceae, Poaceae, Chenopodiaceae, and Fabaceae (53.21 % of all species reported) are the most abundant families. Therophytes and cryptophytes are the mainly abundant life forms and the Mediterranean chorotype is the most representative. The cluster analysis of stands expressed four vegetational groups (A, B, C and D). The most dominant species with group A was Polypogon viridis, with group B was H. curassavicum, with group C (the largest one) was Cynodon dactylon and H. curassavicum and with group D was Phragmites australis. Diversity indices expressed more richness and evenness of vegetation group B (H. curassavicum communities). The major soil factors influencing the studied invasive species are soil texture, WHC, organic carbon, cations (Na+, K+, Ca++, and Mg++), and SAR.

Habitat Preferences of Birds in Relation to Exotic Trees in Canal Bank Forests Gujranwala, Pakistan

Habitat Preferences of Birds in Relation to Exotic Trees in Canal Bank Forests Gujranwala, Pakistan

Contribution of structural and functional modifications to wide distribution of Bermuda grass Cynodon dactylon (L) Pers.

Fifteen ecologically distinct ecotypes of Bermuda grass Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. were evaluated for key factors involved in its widespread distribution in different environmental conditions. Ecotypes collected from saltmarshes showed better vegetative growth, accumulation of inorganic ions (Na+, K+ and Ca2+), compatible solutes (proline and glycine betaine) and higher activities of antioxidative enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase) than all other ecotypes. Increased root and stem radii, sclerification intensity, aerenchyma formation, storage parenchyma (pith and cortex), vascular bundle area and metaxylem area were also observed in the same ecotypes. Notable leaf modifications included development of thicker leaves with intensive sclerification around vascular bundles and wide metaxylem vessels. Ecotypes collected from saline dryland featured large leaf area, increased level of glycine betaine, intensive sclerification and wide leaf xylem vessels. Ecotypes from deserts/semi-deserts exhibited higher soluble proteins and carotenoids, thick epidermis of stem and leaf blade, large cortex and broad metaxylem vessels in root, thick leaf sheaths, well-developed bulliform cells and stomata more oriented towards abaxial surface. Ecotypes collected from river or canal bank possessed high chlorophyll content (chl a, chl b and total chl), epidermal and storage parenchyma cell size, endodermal thickness in root, metaxylem area in stem, sclerification in leaf sheath and increased stomatal density on adaxial leaf surface. In conclusion, ecotypes collected from different habitats exhibited explicit variation in structures (internal modifications) and functions (physiology) due to environmental variability that may contribute to the wide distribution of C. dactylon.

Afifa’s Migration

Afifa’s Migration

The utilization pattern of east flood canal as public open space in urban area

East Flood Canal is one of the manmade waterfront public open spaces in Jakarta which is often visited by residents. The existence of the public open space is very important for society. The purpose of the study is to identify the utilization pattern of public open space on canal banks and analyze the problems related to the utilization of this space. Method used place-centered mapping to identify physical characteristic of public open space and patterns of activity that occur in the study area. The study is conducted in the segment East Flood Canal on Jl. Kolonel Sugiono, Duren Sawit sub-district, East Jakarta. The result is the pattern of utilizing public open space in the four zones in the East Flood Canal segment is linear because the pattern follows the physical setting of pedestrian circulation paths and bicycle lanes. This study suggests both two circulation pathways (pedestrian and bicycle) need to be designed continuously along the canal and equipped with adequate facilities. Improvement of the planning, design, and maintenance of public open space in the segment of canal will have many benefits to increase social interaction, recreational activities, educational communication, and also a concern for the hydrological aspects of the canal.

Prevalence of antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria from canal bank soils in and around Kolkata, India

ABSTRACT The sewage canals of Kolkata, India are substantially polluted by heavily populated human habitats on their banks. This study, for the first time, throws light on the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens in those canal bank soils. Eighty-three percent of them showed resistance to amoxycillin and cefotaxime. Pathogens of Bagbazar canal soil demonstrated exceptionally high MIC ranges of amoxycillin. Pathogenic bacteria of agricultural furrow soil (AFS) samples from the outskirts of Kolkata were much smaller in number, and showed complete antibiotic sensitivity.

On the Helminth Fauna of the Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus (Linnaeus, 1766)) in the Barnim District of Brandenburg State/Germany.

Simple SummaryThe knowledge of the parasite fauna in a given territory is the basis for a successful control. Publications in Germany and abroad showed that muskrats are suitable intermediate hosts for Echinococcus multilocularis, a small tapeworm of red foxes and other carnivores with zoonotic potential. After the first detection of this tapeworm in the Brandenburg state of Germany, research started to investigate the distribution of this parasite in final hosts, but the question of identifying infections in intermediate hosts remained. Introduced more than 100 years ago from north America, muskrats were shown to be suitable intermediate hosts for this parasite. In own investigations, 130 muskrats were examined for internal parasites and eleven endoparasites were found. Examination showed that muskrats trapped in the Barnim district of Brandenburg are final hosts for seven intestinal trematodes and are intermediate hosts for four tapeworms of carnivores. The larval stage of E. multilocularis was not detected.The muskrat is a neozoon species that has occupied many countries of continental North Europe after its introduction from north America as fur animals. Due to its burrowing activity it damages river and canal banks and structures of flood control. For this reason, the eradication of this alien species is recommended. Muskrats are also of parasitological interest since they can act as suitable intermediate hosts for Echinococcus multilocularis. On the other hand, little is known on the other helminths that infect muskrats. A total of 130 muskrats of different age groups trapped in different habitats in the Barnim district of the Brandenburg state by a professional hunter were examined for parasites and seven trematodes (Echinostoma sp., Notocotylus noyeri, Plagiorchis elegans, Plagiorchis arvicolae, Psilosostoma simillimum, P. spiculigerum, Opisthorchis felineus and four larval cestode species (Hydatigera taeniaeformis, Taenia martis, Taenia polyacantha, Taenia crassiceps) were detected. Larval stages of E. multilocularis were not found. O. felineus was found for the first time in muskrats in Germany. All the named parasites were present in Europe prior to the introduction of muskrats. With a prevalence of 48.9%, Strobilocercus fasciolaris, the larval stage of the cat tapeworm, H. taeniaeformis, was the most frequent parasite found in adult muskrats.

Sediment Influx and Its Drivers in Farmers’ Managed Irrigation Schemes in Ethiopia

Excessive soil erosion hampers the functioning of many irrigation schemes throughout sub-Saharan Africa, increasing management difficulties and operation and maintenance costs. River water is often considered the main source of sedimentation, while overland sediment inflow is overlooked. From 2016 to 2018, participatory research was conducted to assess sediment influx in two irrigation schemes in Ethiopia. Sediment influx was simulated using the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) and compared to the amount of sediment removed during desilting campaigns. The sediment deposition rate was 308 m3/km and 1087 m3/km, respectively, for the Arata-Chufa and Ketar schemes. Spatial soil losses amounts to up to 18 t/ha/yr for the Arata-Chufa scheme and 41 t/ha/yr for the Ketar scheme. Overland sediment inflow contribution was significantly high in the Ketar scheme accounting for 77% of the deposited sediment, while only 4% of the sedimentation at the Arata-Chufa scheme came from overland flow. Feeder canal length and the absence of canal banks increased the sedimentation rate, however, this was overlooked by the stakeholders. We conclude that overland sediment inflow is an often neglected component of canal sedimentation, and this is a major cause of excessive sedimentation and management problems in numerous irrigation schemes in sub-Saharan Africa.

A numerical assessment of the scale effects of a ship advancing through restricted waters

Restricted waters present several challenges for ship builders and operators. The proximity of the seabed and river or canal banks cause viscous effects to be more pronounced than in unrestricted waters. These effects do not follow a linear scaling law, which is typically assumed in terms of sinkage and trim. Moreover, the resistance of the ship is increased in a complex fashion, which has largely eluded researchers. The present study will aim to elucidate scale effects in shallow water performance predictions. Particular attention is placed on the form factor, wave resistance, and frictional resistance. Scale effects are confirmed in the two former parameters. Justification for the obtained results is sought in terms of flow properties. Specifically, the flow velocity and boundary layer thickness are examined in detail. The selected case-study reflects recent experimental work on the KCS hull form in restricted waters.

INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES OF POTOHAR PLATEAU, NORTHERN PAKISTAN

The present research work is based on the identification of Invasive Alien Plant Species (IAPS) distributed in Potohar Plateau, which are threat to indigenous flora. To confirm the invasive and alien status of these species, we investigated the flora of Potohar plateau. The target population sampling method was used for the collection and listing of IAPS present in all districts of Potohar Region. Invasion status of IAPS was recorded from wastelands, roadsides, crop fields, banks of canals, mismanaged gardens and housing colonies. Our results revealed that Broussonetia papyrifera Vent., Cannabis sativa L., Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh., Lantana camara L., and Parthenium hysterophorus L. are highly invasive species. Whereas seventeen IAPS were found in naturalized, ten recently escaped from controlled cultivation, three were newly introduced while fifteen grown casually in the study area. The common life form of IAPS was herbs and are used for medicinal and ornamental purposes. These species have invaded maximum area to obstruct the distribution of native flora including medicinal and economically important plants, which are now found in patches. We tend to use eradication methods to control further replacement of indigenous vegetation. This study suggests that the Government of Pakistan should take possible steps to prevent natural habitat of local flora and make separate zones for IAPS. The present study will help the researchers and policymakers to control invasion and alien species.

Heavy metals uptake and its impact on the growth dynamics of the riparian shrub Ricinus communis L. along Egyptian heterogenic habitats.

Heavy metals are well known for their toxicity and become significant environmental pollution with a continually rising technology and public outcry to ensure the safest and healthiest environment. The present study aims to investigate the uptake capability of heavy metals and its impact on the growth dynamics of Ricinus communis L. (castor bean), along various habitats in Qalyubia Province, Egypt. Three composite plants and soil samples were collected from four different habitats: urban (residential area), canal banks, field edges, and drain banks. The samples were analyzed for nutrients and heavy metals. At the same time, forty quadrats (5 × 5 m) were selected to represent the micro-variations of castor bean in the selected habitats to determine its growth criteria and normalized vegetation index (NDVI). The lowest size index, volume, and number of leaves of castor bean were recorded along canal banks and they were characterized by high soil heavy metal concentration, especially Zn, Cu, and Ni, while the highest values were recorded along field edges with lower heavy metal concentration. Moreover, the NDVI indicated that castor bean from most studied habitats, except field edges, was healthy population. This study revealed that the leaves collected from all habitats were considered to be toxic with Cu. The bioconcentration factor (BF) of the investigated heavy metals was greater than 1. The BF order for heavy metals uptake by castor bean leaves was Fe > Ni > Mn > Cu > Zn. Consequently, the species selected in the present study can be used as a biomonitor of these heavy metal polluted soils. Moreover, it could be used as a phytoremediator, taken into consideration its use in all medicinal purposes.

A comparative study of slope stability analysis of Manganese slag stabilized soil to an ordinary soil

Slopes are required in the construction of Highways, Railways, Earthen dams, canal banks, levees and at many other locations. The construction of embankment over the ground is not possible in a vertical way. The Soil can be piled up with slope only. The cost of earthwork is minimum if the slopes are steepest but the Steeper slopes are not safe as per stability conditions because it may fail in shear. The only force acting on the piled earth is gravity force. This gravitational force produces shear in the soil and causes slippage. The failure lead to loss of property and life. There is a lesser chance of slippage of soil if we provide more bottom width compared to its top width. But it requires more area and more earth to fill. So, it is uneconomical.In the present study, the soil was collected from the highway extension project, from the geotechnical investigation it was identified that the soil shear strength was quite low. To improve shear characteristics and to decrease the dry density of soil, it is to be stabilized with a lightweight material, possessing good frictional characteristics. A waste by-product was identified from the industry of nearest village called Manganese (Mn) slag. The soil was stabilized with various percentages of Mn slag, from the geotechnical characterization, an optimum % of slag is selected as 10 %. An embankment slope is assumed for further slope stability analysis. The analysis is carried out on two slopes, one is made with ordinary soil and the other is soil stabilized with optimum Mn slag %. Both stabilized soil embankment and ordinary soil embankment are analysed by using the Method of slices and the final results were compared.

On the ecology and nutritional value of two <em>Echinochloa species</em> (<em>Echinochloa colona</em> and <em>Echinochloa stagnina</em>) in Egypt

In arid and semi-arid countries, where drought prevails together with population growth and limited food resources led to the search for non-conventional alternatives resources for food or feed. In the present study, the ecology, phytochemical composition, and nutritional value of two Echinochloa species (Echinochloa colona (L.) Link and E. stagnina (Retz.) P. Beauv.) collected from the canal banks of the Nile Delta, Egypt were investigated. The soils of E. stagnina had the highest values of moisture content (24.35%), water holding capacity (45.85%), pH (8.12), electric conductivity (5 dsm-1), chloride (1.15%), sulphates (0.95%), organic carbon (2.52%) and Na+ (66.78 mgkg-1). The cover percentages of E. stagnina showed positive significant correlations with water-holding capacity, organic carbon, pH, EC, Na but negative correlations with sand-fraction and sulphates. The shoot of E. stagnina had the highest values of moisture (11.20%), fibers (27.65%), crude proteins (6.90%), total carbohydrates (70.36%), but the shoot of E. colona had the highest contents of total fats (2.80%) and digestible carbohydrates (43.18%). The shoots of E. stagnina had the highest values of flavonoids (6.88 mg g-1 dry weight), alkaloids (5.66 mg g-1 dry weight), tannins (18.23 mg g-1 dry weight), saponins (1.99 mg g-1 dry weight) and total phenols (33.09 mg g-1 dry weight). Regarding nutritional status, E. colona had the highest total digestible energy (60.55%) and nutritive value (11.11%) while E. stagnina had the highest caloric value (219.72 kcal/100 g dry matter) and potential energy (315.21 kcal/100 g dry matter). The two Echinochloa grass are rich-source in nutrients and showed a great energy value. Therefore, the studied grasses are candidates as feed for livestock or as supplementary feed but after detailed toxicological studies.

Determining Factors of Household Decision to Participate on Small Scale Irrigation Practices in Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia

Africa has been promoting small-scale irrigated agriculture as a means of ensuring food security as well as improving the standard of living of rural poor. The main aim of this study was to analyze the determining factors of household decision to participate on Small-Scale Irrigation Practices in Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia. The study employed both primary and secondary data sources. Primary data was collected from randomly selected 150 households through interview schedules. Data was analyzed using both descriptive and econometric methods of analysis. Descriptive result indicated that only 28.67% of households participate on small scale irrigation practices and it is still low as compared to large population size of Wolaita Zone. Collapsed canal banks, unstable embankments, leaking lining in elevated embankments, and cattle climbing in and out of the canal are identified as canal related problems whereas lack of appropriate water laws, absence of irrigation association bylaws, conflicts, and sense of ownership are also management problems. Binary logistic result also revealed that location of the household from upstream side of the river, higher household income, being young-aged household head, owning large number of livestock, better accessing market, being male headed household, and attending in higher education improve the household decision to participate on small scale irrigation practices. The authors strongly recommended government, non-governmental organizations, and other concerned stalk holders to give emphasis on intensifying the use of modern agricultural technologies, strengthening the existing irrigation potentials, providing periodic awareness training, and providing different water holding structures to non-users. Keywords: smallholder farmers, small scale irrigation, participation, binary logistic model; DOI: 10.7176/JPID/57-02 Publication date: December 31 st 2020

No room to roam: King Cobras reduce movement in agriculture

BackgroundStudying animal movement provides insights into how animals react to land-use changes. As agriculture expands, we can use animal movement to examine how animals change their behaviour in response. Recent reviews show a tendency for mammalian species to reduce movements in response to increased human landscape modification, but reptile movements have not been as extensively studied.MethodsWe examined movements of a large reptilian predator, the King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah), in Northeast Thailand. We used a consistent regime of radio telemetry tracking to document movements across protected forest and adjacent agricultural areas. Using dynamic Brownian Bridge Movement Model derived motion variance, Integrated Step-Selection Functions, and metrics of site reuse, we examined how King Cobra movements changed in agricultural areas.ResultsMotion variance values indicated that King Cobra movements increased in forested areas and tended to decrease in agricultural areas. Our Integrated Step-Selection Functions revealed that when moving in agricultural areas King Cobras restricted their movements to remain within vegetated semi-natural areas, often located along the banks of irrigation canals. Site reuse metrics of residency time and number of revisits appeared unaffected by distance to landscape features (forests, semi-natural areas, settlements, water bodies, and roads). Neither motion variance nor reuse metrics were consistently affected by the presence of threatening landscape features (e.g. roads, human settlements), suggesting that King Cobras will remain in close proximity to threats, provided habitat patches are available.ConclusionsAlthough King Cobras displayed individual heterogeneity in their response to agricultural landscapes, the overall trend suggested reduced movements when faced with fragmented habitat patches embedded in an otherwise inhospitable land-use matrix. Movement reductions are consistent with findings for mammals and forest specialist species.

Seiling and cleaning of channels

This article discusses some theoretical assumptions about the causes and factors affecting the siltation (deposits) of channels of reclamation systems. It has been established that the siltation of channels is mainly caused by low speeds of the water moving in them and it occurs due to the destruction of slopes and accumulation of soil deposits at the bottom of the channel. An important role in the siltation of channels is played by the physical and mechanical properties of the soil. The intensity of the siltation of channels in the early years of their construction mainly occurs due to the peeling of the slopes of the soil. In irrigation canals, the intensity of siltation depends on the amount of sediment in the source of irrigation, which is meltwater from the slopes of the mountains bringing a huge amount of sediment. Sludges of intra-systemic origin are mainly obtained as a result of erosion and landslides of canal banks. During the exploitation of the drainage network, repair and restoration work is mandatory, as there is a change in the cross-section of the channels, which leads to a decrease in their parameters. An analysis of a theoretical study of the siltation of channels of reclamation systems using long-term materials from previous studies is carried out.

Estimation of scour depth around cross-vane structures using a novel non-tuned high-accuracy machine learning approach

Due to the vital role of rivers and canals, the protection of their banks and beds is critically important. There are various methods for protecting beds and banks of rivers and canals in which “cross-vane structures” is one of them. In this paper, the scour hole depth at the downstream of cross-vane structures with different shapes (i.e., J, I, U, and W) is simulated utilizing a modern artificial intelligence method entitled “Outlier Robust Extreme Learning Machine (ORELM)”. The observational data are divided into two groups: training (70%) and test (30%). After that, the most optimal activation function for simulating the scour depth at the downstream of cross-vane structures is selected. Then, using the input parameters including the ratio of the structure length to the channel width (b/B), the densimetric Froude number (Fd), the ratio of the difference between the downstream and upstream depths to the structure height (Δy/hst) and the structure shape factor $$ \left( \phi \right) $$, eleven different ORELM models are developed for estimating the scour depth. Subsequently, the suitable model and also the most effective input parameters are identified through the conduction of an uncertainty analysis. The suitable model simulates the scour values by the dimensionless parameters b/B, Fd, Δy/hst. For this model, the values of the correlation coefficient (R), Variance accounted for (VAF) and the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSC) for the suitable model in the test mode are obtained 0.956, 91.378 and 0.908, respectively. Also, the dimensionless parameters b/B, Δy/hst. are detected as the most effective input parameters. Furthermore, the results of the suitable model are compared with the extreme learning machine model and it is concluded that the ORELM model is more accurate. Moreover, an uncertainty analysis exhibits that the ORELM model has an overestimated performance. Besides, a partial derivative sensitivity analysis (PDSA) model is performed for the suitable model.

Bioactive constituents and allelopathic activities of the invasive weed Ranunculus sceleratus L. Nile Delta, Egypt

Ranunculus sceleratus L. (celery-leaved buttercup) is a herbaceous plant grows in wet and moist habitats and is native to temperate and boreal North America and Eurasia. Moreover, it is listed as an invasive weed in northern Africa, Europe and Asia. This study aimed to determine some secondary products in R. sceleratus (Shoot and Root system) collected from canal banks of drains, Nile Delta, Egypt and to demonstrate their antioxidant and allelopathic potential. Results revealed that, methanolic extract of R. sceleratus rich in phenols, saponins and tannins. The antioxidant activity of the R. sceleratus has IC50 value of 0.37 mg/ml and 0.34 mg/ml for shoot and root, respectively, compared to 0.15 mg/ml for catechol. At 400 mg/ml, Chenopodium murale germination was inhibited by 79.74% and 92.64 for shoot and root extract, respectively, compared to control. However, the shoot growth was reduced by 76.06 % and 87.96 %, with the same sequence. The root growth was more sensitive to the allelopathic effect compared to the shoot, where it was inhibited by 82.68% and 98.67%, respectively, compared to control at the highest concentration. The obtained results on this invisive weed R. sceleratus could be a source of eco-friendly bioherbicides against C. murale and as a source of antioxidants.

Fabrication of Permeameter for Determination of Hydraulic Conductivity of Earth Materials

Laboratory investigation is one of the major ways of assessing soil hydraulic conductivity. Determination of hydraulic conductivity aids in engineering design of well pumping, prediction concerning spread of polluting fluids, embankment of canal bank affected by seepage, flooding solutions and stability of earth dams. However, different studies have shown that there are alternative models to Darcy’s law which governs the widely use of laboratory measurement of hydraulic conductivity. The deficiencies accustomed to the conventional permeameter such as the time wastage and cost-intensivehas led to different research modification. A low-cost permeameter was fabricated using a plastic column, hose pipe, to serve as water inlet and outlet connected to two manometer tubes to measure the pressure head difference. The hydraulic conductivities measured using the low-cost were 4.31 cm/s, 8.14 cm/s, 6.12 cm/s, 5.86 cm/s for 0.3 mm coarse sand, 0.85-1 mm fine sand, sandy clay and silty clay respectively. In comparison of the fabricated permeameter with conventional permeameter and other fabricated laboratory permeameters, it was observed that the hydraulic conductivity obtained is consistent with the typical permeability range for each soil type.

Impact of the Effluents of Hyderabad City, Tando Muhammad Khan, and Matli on Phuleli Canal Water

The demand and supply of safe water is a basic need. The consumption of clean water intensified with population growth and economic development which in turn cause degradation of available freshwater resources while creating huge volumes of wastewater, solid waste, and serious environmental problems. This paper presents the impact of disposing of domestic/industrial effluents into an irrigation canal. The subsequent contamination of the canal water becomes a public health risk. The non-perennial Phuleli canal with a discharge of 15,026 cusecs, takes in water from the left bank of Kotri Barrage, which is the last controlling hydraulic structure on the Indus River. This canal runs from the periphery of Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan (TM Khan) and Matli cities and supplies water for domestic, agricultural, and industrial activities. The canal water is the only source of drinking water for millions of people because the groundwater in the command area of the canal is highly saline. The banks on both sides of the canal have encroached in cities’ areas. The huge volume of solid waste and municipal and industrial wastewater from these cities and from the occupied canal banks are dumped directly into the canal without any treatment. The collected samples’ were analyzed for pH, EC, TDS, Cl, SO4, HCO3, hardness, Na, K, Ca, and Mg. These results show higher than permissible limits as per NEQS and WHO. The Karl Pearson matrix correlation of parameters reveals strong relation among EC with TDS and CL with SO4, Mg with K and moderated relationship among the other parameters except for pH and DO. Water Quality Index (WQI) model indicates that the water quality of the canal is poor and unfit for drinking. Hence the consumption of canal water is a high potential health risk for locals.