Highland Zone Research Articles

Landscape Transformation in Turag River Basin between 1980 and 2010

Landscape transformation process for the study area has been analyzed for three decades. The change of each class has been studied and attempt has been made to find out the reasons of changing pattern. The change dynamics were not same all over the study area, so for detail analysis the whole basin has been classified into three different zones (High, Medium and Low land) on the basis of elevation as adopted by Soil Resources and Development Institute (SRDI) of Bangladesh. “Human settlement” has been changed more actively in “High land (Zone 1)”, on the other hand “Small area built-up” has been changed more actively in “Medium land (Zone 2)”. These two classes have been changed positively. “Forest” has been changed negatively in “High land (Zone 1)” compared to other two zones (Medium land and Low land). “Urban” area has been changed to “Medium land (Zone 2) as it is very near to Dhaka city. Another significant positive change has been found in “Brick field” area in low land (Zone 3) along the main stream of Turag river, and the reason for this is the easy transportation of bricks to Dhaka city and around by river transportation.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jesnr.v7i2.22219 Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 7(2): 115-125 2014

Chemical Control and Economics of Phomopsis Blight and Fruit Rot of Brinjal in the Eastern Ghat Highland Zone of Odisha

A field trial was conducted during 2011 and 2012 for management of phomopsis blight and fruit rot of brinjal caused by Phomopsis vexans by seed treatment with carboxin 37.5% + thiram 37.5% (Vitavax power) @ 2 g/kg and foliar application of copper oxychloride (Blitox-50) @ 0.3%.The disease and economic parameters as well as yield were compared with that of untreated farmers’ field. It was revealed that the plant protection chemicals increased the seed germination by 21.18% and reduced seedling mortality, seedling blight and fruit rot infection by 90.25, 74.51 and 65.9%, respectively. The improved germination and reduced disease infections helped to sustain 40.28% higher brinjal yield with a net higher return of Rs. 26513 per ha.

Soil aggregation, carbon build up and root zone soil moisture in degraded sloping lands under selected agroforestry based rehabilitation systems in eastern India

Sloping hills ravaged by shifting cultivation often causes soil erosion problems in the downstream cultivated lands. This study was carried out in the highland zone of Eastern India to evaluate selected horti-silvi-pastoral systems in terms of soil carbon build up, soil aggregation and soil moisture retention in a degraded sloping land. The experiment was taken up during 2000–2006 in a degraded hillock of about 4.0ha area with eight treatments involving two fruit species (cashew and guava), two grass species (Stylosanthes hamata and natural grass) and two in situ (trench or no-trench) moisture conservation measures. Hedge rows of Indigofera teysmanni (silviculture component) were used uniformly for all the treatments. Trenches of 0.45m×0.45m×1.0m dimension at 0.5mu/s side of fruit plants conserved 2.18g100g−1 higher soil moisture on an average in the 0–30cm layer. The effect of fruit tree component was visible during 6th year of study in terms of soil organic carbon (SOC) only. In 6 years, the average increase in SOC and water stable aggregates in the 0–30cm profile was 89% and 46% under rehabilitation treatments. The SOC stock at the end of 6 years was 34–40Mgha−1 in the 0–30cm profile under treatments as compared to 21Mgha−1 under control. The SOC build up rate increased linearly with time and the average rates were 4.5, 3.5 and 0.64Mgha−1yr−1 for Stylosanthes and natural grass based treatments and control, respectively. In all the systems, macroaggregates (>250μm) were higher in proportion and contained higher organic carbon. Guava+Stylosanthes+Trench system proved better in terms of soil carbon build up, soil aggregation and soil moisture retention.

Assessment of the canopy urban heat island of a coastal arid tropical city: The case of Muscat, Oman

The spatio-temporal variability of the canopy-level urban heat island (UHI) of Muscat is examined on the basis of meteorological observations and mobile measurements during a span of 1 year. The results indicate that the peak UHI magnitude occurs from 6 to 7 hours after sunset and it is well developed in the summer season. The warm core of the UHI is located in the Highland zone of Muscat, along a narrow valley characterized by low ventilation, high business activities, multi-storied buildings and heavy road traffic. Topographically, this valley is surrounded by mountains formed of dark-colored rocks such Ophiolites that can absorb short wave radiation and contribute, herewith, to the emergence of this warm urban core. In addition, this mountainous terrain tends to isolate this location from the cooling effect of the land–sea breeze circulation during the day time. In this warm valley the hottest temperature is encountered in the compact districts of old Muscat. In comparison, the urban thermal pattern in Lowland zone of Muscat is fragmented and the urban–rural thermal difference is reduced because of the lower urban density of the residential quarters. In addition, the flat alluvial terrain on which these residential quarters are located is consistently exposed to the land breeze circulation. Also, the study illuminates and emphasizes the importance giving due consideration to the nature of the rural baseline when assessing the urban effect on an area's climate. For Muscat City, irrespective of the rural baseline used, a significant difference in the value of the urban heat island is registered.

QUO VADIS, BRAZILIAN VITICULTURE? GLOBALIZATION AND THE LEGACY OF SANTOS NETO

Brazilian viticultural science has dismissed the legacy of J.R.A. Santos Neto, pioneer of a promising agroecological model for tropical viticulture in Brazil: onsite development of hybrid cultivars between classical Vitis vinifera selections and tropical to subtropical Vitis species native to the northern hemisphere latitude belt congruous with its southern hemisphere counterpart, the vast highland zone that girds central Brazil. A revision of current viticultural development policy is called for that would recognize the critical importance of latitudinal daylength in breeding and selecting adapted cultivars. Such native selections would have distinctive organoleptic attributes desirable in a global market that increasingly demands product diversity and organically sustainable agronomics.

Groundwater Recharge through Conservation Structures – A Study in Ghat Area of Orissa

Groundwater recharge from two different water conservation structures under humid conditions of eastern ghat high land (EGHL) zone of Orissa were estimated by employing water table fluctuation procedure. A power function relationship best fitted the recharge and water storage depths. Contribution of base flow was segregated from the recharge values using base flow hydrograph separation technique. Potential groundwater recharge based on four years (2004-07) was estimated in the range between 3.5 - 11.0 % of the annual rainfall while considering the runoff contributing area of the conservation structures. Temporal groundwater contour maps generated using grid based graphics SURFER package (Version # 8) and GPSMAP (Version # 76CSX) for the study watershed revealed that there was a total net increase of 8.12 m and decrease of 2.61 m water table depths during wet and dry periods, respectively, resulting in net increase of water table by 1.38 m per year due to the influence of the water conservation structures. Groundwater quality of the wells in the watershed was found to be safe for irrigation and domestic consumption purposes.

Phylogenetic diversity of Sri Lankan freshwater crabs and its implications for conservation

As part of a Global Biodiversity Hotspot, the conservation of Sri Lanka's endemic biodiversity warrants special attention. With 51 species (50 of them endemic) occurring in the island, the biodiversity of freshwater crabs is unusually high for such a small area (65,600 km(2)). Freshwater crabs have successfully colonized most moist habitats and all climatic and elevational zones in Sri Lanka. We assessed the biodiversity of these crabs in relation to the different elevational zones (lowland, upland and highland) based on both species richness and phylogenetic diversity. Three different lineages appear to have radiated simultaneously, each within a specific elevational zone, with little interchange thereafter. The lowland and upland zones show a higher species richness than the highland zone while--unexpectedly--phylogenetic diversity is highest in the lowland zone, illustrating the importance of considering both these measures in conservation planning. The diversity indices for the species in the various IUCN Red List categories in each of the three zones suggest that risk of extinction may be related to elevational zone. Our results also show that overall more than 50% of Sri Lanka's freshwater crab species (including several as yet undescribed ones), or approximately 72 million years of evolutionary history, are threatened with extinction.

Determination of the power law exponent for southern highlands of Tanzania

The 1/7th power law is among the methods that have been used to extrapolate wind speed to the hub heights of wind turbines from the measuring levels. However, it tends to underestimate the actual long-term average wind speeds. In this paper, the power law exponent for Makambako, a site located in the southern highland zone of Tanzania, was established using wind speeds measured at heights Z1=2 m and Z2=7 m. The average power law exponent obtained at the test site was 0.47, a value that is substantially higher than the 1/7th power law exponent. It is low during the dry season and high during the rainy season. Values of the exponent higher than the overall mean were observed during the night while lower values were detected during the daytime. The overall mean value of the exponent determined from this trial site can be used to project wind speed to desired heights in areas with similar topographical features especially those in the southern highlands of Tanzania, in which the experimental site is situated. Tanzania Journal of Science Vol. 32 (1) 2006: pp. 103-108

Development and Management of Groundwater in Eritrea, N-E Africa

The water needs of Eritrea are almost entirely met from groundwater resources. Except the reservoirs of the cities of Asmara and Mendefera there are no surface water resources in the country. The Setit is the only perennial river traversing a small southwestern tract of the country. The available water resources hardly cater to around 15% of the requirement of the people. In the present situation only groundwater development and management is the viable solution. The geology of the area, including the basement rocks is suitable as receptacles of groundwater. Besides, the country is crisscrossed by many shears, fractures, normal faults, extension joints and dykes which act as conduits. As a part of groundwater management, aforestation, social forestry, horticulture and grasslands are to be promoted extensively, initially in the central high land zone and the green belt zone that receive more than 800 mm rainfall. The same programs are to be extended, step-by-step to the western escarpment, southern lowland, northwestern low land and the coastal zone, which wears a desert look. Both surface and subsurface water development and management are essential to meet the water requirements of the country and to avoid soil erosion and associated problems.

Development and management of groundwater in Eritrea, N-E Africa

The water needs of Eritrea are almost entirely met from groundwater resources. Except the reservoirs of the cities of Asmara and Mendefera there are no surface water resources in the country. The Setit is the only perennial river traversing a small southwestern tract of the country. The available water resources hardly cater to around 15% of the requirement of the people. In the present situation only groundwater development and management is the viable solution. The geology of the area, including the basement rocks is suitable as receptacles of groundwater. Besides, the country is crisscrossed by many shears, fractures, normal faults, extension joints and dykes which act as conduits. As a part of groundwater management, aforestation, social forestry, horticulture and grasslands are to be promoted extensively, initially in the central high land zone and the green belt zone that receive more than 800 mm rainfall. The same programs are to be extended, step-by-step to the western escarpment, southern lowland, northwestern low land and the coastal zone, which wears a desert look. Both surface and subsurface water development and management are essential to meet the water requirements of the country and to avoid soil erosion and associated problems.

Epidemiological studies on Theileriosis and the dynamics of Theileria parva infections in Rwanda

An epidemiological analysis based on three country wide surveys was carried out to determine the prevalence of infections with Theileria spp. in Rwanda. In the 1998 dry season, a total of 264 blood samples were submitted to Theileria spp. characterisation using the 18S species-specific PCR-RFLP assay. The same samples together with 634 samples (317 samples/season) collected during the 2002 dry season and the 2003 wet season were further analysed using the p104 Theileria parva specific PCR. The results from the 18S characterisation showed the presence of four Theileria spp., namely T. parva, T. mutans, T. taurotragi and T. velifera in the field. Half of the animals had multiple Theileria spp. infections. T. parva was the most prevalent and a high correlation (94%) was found between the prevalence results using the 18S and the p104 PCR assays. The prevalence of T. parva infections was stable over time and over season but decreased significantly from the high land to the low land areas. This unexpected trend cannot be explained alone by ecology or the dynamics of the tick population in the different zones, many other components such as breed type, tick control practices and grazing system are likely to play a role. Another important finding was the fact that young animals are infected early in life in all regions except in the high land zone indicating the existence of a particular epidemiological situation in this part of the country.

Prehistoric exploitation of Grevena highland zones: hunters and herders along the Pindus chain of western Macedonia (Greece)

The surveys and excavations carried out in the highland zone of the Grevena Pindus Mountains have revealed that the watershed that separates western Macedonia from Epirus was (seasonally) inhabited in different prehistoric times, from the Middle Palaeolithic to the Bronze Age. The highest concentration of ‘sites’ is known from the surroundings of the modern village of Samarina, which is rich in good-quality chert raw material outcrops. This territory is still nowadays heavily exploited by Vlach shepherds who seasonally carry out pastoral activities, moving their flocks from the eastern lowlands up to the high-altitude pastures. The excavations carried out at three different sites, all lying on a flysch substratum, revealed the presence of a redeposited lower sediment, characterized by a polygonal soil caused by ground freezing that was later effected by erosion canals produced by human interference in the landscape. The results so far obtained from a few charcoal radiocarbon dates indicate that this fact took place in at least three different periods from the middle Bronze Age to the seventh century ad.

The effect of storage time and agroecological zone on mould incidence and aflatoxin contamination of maize from traders in Uganda

A study to determine mould incidence and aflatoxin contamination of maize kernels was carried out among dealers (traders) in the three agroecological zones of Uganda. The maize kernels were categorized into those stored for two to six months or for more than six months to one year. Results indicate that the mean moisture content of the kernels was within the recommended safe storage levels of ≤ 15% but was significantly lower in the Highland maize kernels followed by the Mid-Altitude (dry) kernels while the Mid-Altitude (moist) kernels had the highest levels. Across the agroecological zones, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium and Rhizopus were the most predominant fungal genera identified and, among their species, A. niger had the highest incidence, followed by A. flavus, F. verticillioides, A. wentii, A. penicillioides and Rhizopus stolonifer. There were more aflatoxin positive samples from the Mid-Altitude (moist) zone (88%) followed by those samples from the Mid-Altitude (dry) zone (78%) while samples from the Highland zone (69%) were least contaminated. Aflatoxin levels increased with storage time such that maize samples from the Mid-Altitude (dry and moist) stored for more than six months had mean levels greater than the 20 ppb FDA/WHO regulatory limits. Aflatoxin B 1 was the most predominant type and was found to contaminate maize kernels from all the three agroecological zones. These results indicate that maize consumers in Uganda are exposed to the danger of aflatoxin poisoning. Thus, there is the need for policy makers to establish and enforce maize quality standards and regulations related to moulds and aflatoxins across the agroecological zones to minimize health hazards related to consumption of contaminated kernels.

Development of station nomograph and intensity-duration-frequency relations in Eastern Ghat High Land Zone of Orissa

Development of station nomograph and intensity-duration-frequency relations in Eastern Ghat High Land Zone of Orissa

The simulation of runoff from small catchments in the permafrost zone by the SWAP model

The ability of a new version of SWAP physically based model, which describes the heat and water exchange processes in the soil-vegetation (snow cover)-near-surface atmosphere system and has been adapted to the permafrost conditions, to reproduce runoff formation at small watersheds in the permafrost zone. The procedure for the preparation of missing input data for model simulations is described. Model simulations were performed based on observational data collected within a decade (1969–1978) by the Kolyma Water Balance Station, located in a high-land continuous permafrost zone. The results of comparison of the modelled daily and annual runoff with data of appropriate measurements in a number of experimental watersheds in the basin of the Kontaktovyi Creek (Upper Kolyma) are analyzed.

Phenotypic characterization and production performance of local pigs under village settings in the Southern Highland zone, Tanzania

SummaryIndigenous pigs in Tanzania are descendants of earlier European introductions. However, a lack of systematic breeding plans, poor husbandry practices, genetic drift and possibly mutation have led to pigs of varied phenotypes. A study undertaken in Mbeya region showed that the predominant management system practised was free ranging and occasionally tethering. The average mature body weights for boars and sows were 57.4 kg and 54 kg, respectively. Coat colour varied, but the predominant colours were white (28%), black and white (24%), and solid black (19.8%). The majority (78%) of pigs had droopy ears and such pigs were found to be significantly (P<0.01) heavier with a longer trunk and increased body length when compared with those with erect ears. Other features included a long and straight face and a short curled tail. The overall mean birth weight was 0.9 kg while the mean weaning weight was 10.8 kg. The average litter size for local pigs was 6.6 piglets and litter size at weaning was 4.3 piglets. Locally raised pigs served a number of functions including among others, income, provision of meat, cooking fat and manure.

The Changing Ancient Landscape: South-West England c. 1700–1900

The rural landscape of Devon and Cornwall has long been seen as part of Britain's 'highland zone,' with an 'ancient countryside' that has been little affected by the sweeping changes seen in many other regions during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This article argues that though this 'ancient landscape' may be the result of 1,000 years or more of continuous use, its appearance today is still very different from its appearance 1,000 years ago. A great many changes have taken place in the rural landscape since 1700 – even excluding the dramatic impact of industries like tin-mining and china clay extraction. The article outlines the main changes to the farming landscape of medieval fields and rough grazing ground that occurred between 1700–1900. Some detailed examples help deepen our understanding of the nature of change over the long term in ancient countryside.

Entre le Nord et le Sud—un site à pointes à dos de la fin de l’Allerød : Bad Breisig, district de Ahrweiler (vallée moyenne du Rhin, RFA)

Due to unparalleled conditions of preservation below volcanic ashes of the late glacial Laacher-See volcano, the Central Rhineland region, located at the geographic hinge between the North German Lowlands and the Highland zone, permits detailed insights into the environmental and vegetational history of the Allerød-Interstadial and has produced fundamental data for the reconstruction of the way of life of hunter-gatherer groups of that time. The recently investigated site of Bad Breisig, dating to the final part of the Allerød, is the first record of a Late Glacial human settlement of the Central Rhineland after the disastrous environmental destruction caused by the eruption of the Laacher-See volcano. The site is an important chronostratigraphic and typological key in the understanding of the development of the Final Palaeolithic technocomplex with backed points in Central Europe.

Production potential and economics of niger (Guizotiu abyssinica) based cropping sequences under Eastern Ghat Highland Zone of Orissa

A 2 year (1997 99) experiment with 6 niger [Guizotia abyssinicia (L.f.) . Cassl based cropping sequences showed that the maximum grain.productivity . was obtained in radish (Raphanus sativus L.) niger cropping sequence. The niger seed equivalent yield, gross returns and net returns (Rs 22,293lha) and , benefit : cost ratio (2.02) were maximum in French bean (Phaselous vulgaris L.) niger sequence followed by radish niger in comparison to monocrop of niger (fallow niger) and sawan (Echinochloa,colonum.L.) niger, the traditional. flopping sequence. . , . I .

Spatial and temporal aspects of the genetic structure of Juniperus communis populations.

Juniperus communis is a dioecious, wind pollinated shrub or small tree that produces 'berries' (female cones) containing a small number of seeds that are thought to be dispersed by birds. The expectation, therefore, would be that populations of Juniper are genetically diverse with little structuring between them. In Britain, the species has two main centres of distribution: a highland zone in the north and west, in which populations are still large and sexually reproducing, and a southern zone on chalk downlands in which populations are small and fragmented and individuals suffer from a decline in fertility. Thus, one would expect the large sexually viable populations in the north to exhibit high levels of within-population genetic variation, while the declining southern populations would be genetically depauperate. The analysis of amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) was used to test this hypothesis. Surprisingly, all populations studied showed high levels of genetic variation although there was clear structuring between populations. On the basis of the geographical structuring of the populations it was hypothesized that J. communis colonized Britain via three separate routes.