Districts Of Chhattisgarh Research Articles

English

The root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne species) are economically important pathogens, especially infesting vegetable crops. In the tropics and subtropics, Meloidogyne incognita causes an estimated yield loss of 5 to 43% in vegetable crops. In the present study, root-knot nematode disease was surveyed in various vegetable crops in the central plain region of Chhattisgarh State. Roots and rhizosphere soil samples were collected from 44 farmlands representing five districts of Chhattisgarh during mid cropping season. Nematodes were extracted by Cobb’s sieving and decanting method, followed by modified Baermann’s funnel technique. Out of 44 samples, 24 showed the root-knot nematodes infection with an overall incidence of 54.54%. The percent incidences of disease ranged between 30 and 80% in five districts. Out of 13 species of vegetable crops surveyed, nine were observed to be infected. The most frequently occurring species was Meloidogyne incognita (63.33%), followed by Meloidogyne arenaria (20%) and Meloidogyne javanica (16.67%). Maximum frequency was observed in Lageneria siceraria (100%), and least was Musa paradisiaca, Daucus carota and Amaranthus tristis (50%). The mean population density of 2nd stage nematodes ranged between 766 and 9076 nematodes/200 cc soil and 10 g roots in samples.   Key words: Root-knot nematode, survey, Meloidogyne spp., incidence, frequency, Chhattisgarh.

Participatory varietal selection of chickpea in rainfed rice fallow lands of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh in India for sustainable crop production

Production and area of chickpea are reducing every year in India due to competition with horticulture and other cash crops in irrigated areas. There is a great scope for expanding chickpea production with or without limited irrigation in rainfed rice fallow lands (RRFL) in the states of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. Nineteen chickpea genotypes were tested using participatory varietal selection (PVS) trials on farmers’ fields in each of the four districts of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. Among the several traits of the introduced chickpea varieties, grain yield was the most preferred trait by farmers, followed by resistance to diseases and early maturity. Selection of chickpea genotypes varied over time and location depending on agronomic and climatic pressures, indicating a preference by farmers for growing multiple, improved varieties. Yield potential of PVS genotypes averaged up to 50% greater than the local cultivar. Farmers’ participation in the selection process of genotypes laid the foundation of better and sustainable yields of chickpea and thereby providing better economic returns suitable to small farmers of RRFL of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. The results of this study can be replicated in the similar environments in Asia and Africa.

Price Spread of Minor Millets in Bastar District of Chhattisgarh

An attempt has been made in this study to examine the price spread of minor millets in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh. Four villages of Jagdalpur block namely Bhatagudai, Turenar, Kalcha and Kumhrawand were selected to collect the required information and the study was confined to three commercial minor millets namely Kodo, Kutki and Ragi. The data were collected for the crop year 2007–08. The total marketing cost paid by the retailers was 32.60 per quintal. The sale price of producer came to 395.00 and 400.00 in channel-I and channel-II respectively. Net price received by producer was being 400.00 in channel-II, which came to 74.90% to consumer price. Net margin received by the retailer was 101.40 per quintal i.e. 18.98% to consumer purchase price. The price paid by consumers for per quintal of minor millets products was calculated 534.00 in Channel-II. Producer's share in consumer rupee was 74.90% in Channel-II of the minor millets.

Biomass and Carbon Storage Pattern in an Age Series of Teak Plantation in Dry Tropics

The present study was conducted to investigate the biomass and carbon storage pattern in an age series of teak plantation in tropical environment at Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary in Raipur district of Chhattisgarh during the year 2011–2012. The study was conducted in three different age of plantation (19 years, 23 years and 33 years old) in tropical environment. Forest structure was determined using phytosociological observations. Biomass for each plantation site was estimated using allometric equations based on the relationship between girth of tree and dry weight of the components. The carbon storage for the vegetation components was computed as the sum of the products obtained by multiplying dry weights of components with their mean carbon concentrations. A total of 13 species of 9 families were encountered. Tree stand density varied from 1010–1380 stems ha−1 with basal area ranging from 23.54 to 44.75 m2 ha−1. Species diversity index varied between 0.24 for 19 years old teak plantation to 1.07 for 33 years old teak plantation. The total biomass recorded in age series of teak plantation was between 119.37 t ha−1 and 235.14 t ha−1, and it was highest in 33 years old teak plantation followed by 23 years old teak plantation and lowest in 19 years old teak plantation. The total above ground biomass in different age of plantation ranged from 99.08 to 197.88 t ha−1. The below ground biomass in different plantation sites varied from 20.29 to 37.26 t ha −1. The total tree biomass increased with age of the plantation. The total carbon (t ha−1) recorded among the different age of plantation sites was maximum in 33 years old teak plantation (101.40) followed by 23 years old teak plantation (90.66) and 19 years old teak plantation (51.32). The higher proportion of above ground carbon was allocated in bole followed by branch and root in different age of plantation. The above ground carbon in different age of plantation ranged between 44.07 to 88.09 t ha−1. The below ground carbon in different plantation varied from 7.25 to 13.31 t ha−1. From these studies, it is evident that the biomass and carbon increased steadily with respect to the increase in the age, dbh and height of the plantation as the biomass is generally associated with the age and size of the trees. Biomass of the individual tree components also increased with the increase in the age of the plantation.

Can Follow-Up Examination of Tuberculosis Patients Be Simplified? A Study in Chhattisgarh, India

BackgroundEach follow-up during the course of tuberculosis treatment currently requires two sputum examinations. However, the incremental yield of the second sputum sample during follow-up of different types of tuberculosis patients has never been determined precisely.ObjectivesTo assess the incremental yield of the second sputum sample in the follow-up of tuberculosis patients under the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) in Chhattisgarh, India.MethodologyA record review of tuberculosis (TB) patients registered in 2009 using a structured proforma from two sources, Tuberculosis and Laboratory Register, was undertaken in the six districts of Chhattisgarh, India.ResultsIn smear positive cases, of 10,048 follow-up examinations, 45 (0.5%) were found to be smear positive only on the second sputum when the result of the first sample was negative. In smear negative pulmonary and extra pulmonary TB patients, of 6,206 follow-up smear examinations, 11(0.2%) were found to be smear positive.ConclusionsThe incremental yield of a second smear examination was very low, indicating that examination of one sputum sample is enough during follow-up among TB patients. There is insufficient yield to support sputum smear microscopy for monitoring smear negative pulmonary TB and extra pulmonary TB patients. These results indicate that the follow-up smear microscopy can be substantially simplified with favourable resource implications.

Ypthima Avanta Moore (Lepidoptera: Satyridae) -A New Addition to the Butterfly Fauna of Achanakmar -Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve

Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve (A-A BR) is the 14th Biosphere Reserve of the country. It is an interstate biosphere comprises major part of Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh and with part Anuppur and Dindori districts of Madhya Pradesh states. The Biosphere Reserve is a paradise of faunal and floral diversity. Recent survey made during the rainy season in Amarkantak range under Anuppur Forest Division of Madhya Pradesh, the buffer zone of Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve revealed the occurrence of 12 species of butterflies (six species belong to family Nymphalidae, two species belong to family Pieridae, one species belongs to family Danaidae, Erycinidae, Hesperiidae and Satyridae). Among the butterflies collected, Ypthima avanta Moore (Lepidoptera : Satyridae) is a new addition to the insect faunal composition of butterflies in Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve.

Study of Traditional Medicinal Practices among the Raj-Gonds of Korba District of Chhattisgarh

This paper documents the traditional knowledge of medicinal plants that are in use by the Raj-Gond tribes residing in Korba district of Chhattisgarh. The information was collected from community members as well as from traditional healers. Raj-Gonds believe that any disease is caused due to magico-religious elements, malnutrition and environmental imbalance. Raj-Gonds usually approach Baiga and Vaidhraj, who are the traditional healers. These healers also diagnose the disease through magico-religious methods. They identify the involvement of spirit, demons or deities. Raj-Gonds are pluralistic in seeking treatment for various illnesses and diseases. However, they prefer the traditional healers. The present study documented the information on various herbs including the derivatives or parts of the herbs they use, preparation of the drug for use, dosage, etc. The study warrants evaluating medical efficacy of these traditional medicines and documenting oral traditional knowledge, which persists among tribal communities.

Effect of flyash on some physico-chemical parameters of soil and growth of Chickpea in Arpa irrigation project area of Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh

A study on the effect of flyash on the physico-chemical characteristics viz. pH, electrical conductivity and trace element concentration, of soil of Arpa irrigation project area of Bilaspur District (C.G.) has been made during present investigation. Results obtained reveal that the increasing proportion of flyash in soil considerably increase the value of these characteristics. Effect of these changes on the growth parameters like root length, chlorophyll content, grain yield per plant and average seed weight of chickpea ( Cicer arietinum Linn.) were also made. All these were found to be favourably affected by flyash induced changes in soil characteristics. We put forth a base for recommendation of flyash application at least for cultivation of chickpea in acidic soil.

Speciation of Arsenic in Environmental and Biological Samples

AbstractA novel arsine generator glass assembly is constructed and reported for the spectrophotometric determination and speciation of arsenic in real samples. In an arsine generator, sodium borohydride is added dropwise to the acidic sample solution and arsine thus formed is reacted with silver diethyldithiocarbamate (Ag‐DDTC) ‐ Tritron‐X (TX‐100) solution in pyridine to form a red coloured complex. The complex showed the absorption maximum at λmax 540 nm. The molar absorptivity of the method was found to be (1.55) × 104 L mole−1 cm−1 at this wavelength. The presence of non‐ionic surfactant, i.e. TX‐100 in the Ag‐DDTC solution, makes the method ≈ 3 times more sensitive than the conventional Ag‐DDTC method. Beer's law is obeyed in the concentration range of 0.05–2.80 mg L−1 of arsenic. The detection limit of the method was calculated to be 20 μg L−1 As. Speciation of arsenite from other forms of arsenic in sample solutions was carried out by extraction of arsenite with Pb‐DDTC in chloroform, followed by spectrophotometric determination. After arsenite separation the sample is used for the arsenate determination. Total arsenic was determined by acid decomposition of the same sample. The speciation data were found to be comparable (±2%) with ICP‐MS, with better precision (< 1%). The method has been successfully applied for the speciation of arsenic in drinking water and dust samples of arsenic affecting the Rajnandgaon district of Chhattisgarh, India, and urine and blood samples of patients with arsenical diseases. Concentration of total arsenic in tube‐well water of this area was 3–6 times more than the permissible limit. Dust samples contained less amounts of arsenic than the ground water.