Indian Himalaya Research Articles

Floristic composition, biomass and carbon stock of grasslands along elevation gradient in Indian central Himalaya

Floristic composition, biomass and carbon stock of grasslands along elevation gradient in Indian central Himalaya

Climate change vulnerability assessment for adaptation planning in Uttarakhand, Indian Himalaya

Climate change vulnerability estimation at all spatial scales is imperative for the development of effective adaptation strategies in the biogeographically fragile Himalayan region. This study aims to estimate district-wise climate change vulnerability in the state of Uttarakhand for the year 2022 by integrating climatic, environmental, and socio-economic factors. Employing an integrated approach, nine components (climate change, natural disaster, ecosystem services, agriculture, socio-economic status, human resource capacity, infrastructure, basic facilities, and social/natural capital) incorporating a total of 63 indicators, are used to estimate exposure (E), sensitivity (S), adaptive capacity (AC) and the vulnerability of the study area. Principal component analysis (PCA) is used to assess the suitability and weights of all the indicators. The findings show that middle (1400–2400 m a.s.l.) and higher (>2400 m a.s.l.) districts of the state are more vulnerable (−0.68 to −1.50) than lower (1–1400 m a.s.l.) districts (0.16 to −0.26). Based on the vulnerability index (−0.68 to −1.50), five districts-Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Champawat, Pithoragarh, and Bageshwar are identified as priority districts for adaptation planning. The high vulnerability is primarily attributed to increased exposure to excessive precipitation, cold waves, cloudbursts, and flood events, coupled with high ecosystem sensitivity and low adaptive capacity. In contrast, the lower districts of the state benefit from better infrastructure, social and natural capital, and connectivity, which contribute to low vulnerability. The suggested strategies in the present study would help policymakers to allocate resources efficiently, fostering long-term resilience to climate change and sustainable development.

Evaluation of Different Mass Production Techniques to Enhance the Progeny of Isolated Indigenous Entomopathogenic Nematodes from Indian Himalayan Region

Evaluation of Different Mass Production Techniques to Enhance the Progeny of Isolated Indigenous Entomopathogenic Nematodes from Indian Himalayan Region

Yield Attributes and Economics of Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) Cultivars under Irrigated Uphill Condition of Indian Himalayan Region in Nagaland

Background: Linseed is an upright annual herbaceous plant that grows up to a height of 30-120 cm with slight glabrous, grayish green stem while flax types grow to a height of 80-120 cm with straight culms and fewer secondary branches near the top of the stem. The colour of linseed flowers depends on the varieties. According to Vavilov, the small-seeded type is grown primarily for oil purposes while the bold seeded type is grown primarily for fibre purposes. Methods: The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with three replications and consisted of seven linseed varieties viz., JLS-95, RLC-153, LSL-93, T-397, Shekhar, Priyam and Parvati. Result: Among all the varieties JLS-95 produced higher yield attributes viz., number of capsules plants-1, seed yield (Kg ha-1) and stover yield as well was statistically superior in variety JLS-95 over the other varieties. The variety JLS-95 recorded maximum gross returns, net returns and B:C compared to the other varieties.

Water Stress Adaptations by Rhododendron arboreum Smith in The Himalayan Treeline Environment

Drought is amongst the most important climatic events which can severely impact natural ecosystems. The under-canopy Indian Himalayan tree species are less studied on water stress in harsh climatic conditions. Rhododendron arboreum is an ecologically and economically important tree species and distributed between 1500–3500 m asl in the Himalayan ecosystems. In this study, we have tried to assess the water stress adaptations by R. arboreum near the treeline ecotone located at 30°11´02˝N and 79°39´36˝E between 3100 and 3500 m asl elevation. Water potential (Ψ) was measured using a Pressure chamber and leaf conductance with the help of AP4 porometer. Soil moisture (Sm) across the depths was highly variable (p<0.05). The pre-dawn water potential (ΨPD) of R. arboreum tree varied between -0.12 and -0.91 MPa. ANOVA showed that the ΨPD of R. arboreum seedlings varied significantly across the years, seasons, and sites (p<0.05). The decline in osmotic potential at full turgor (Ψπ100) was -1.18 to -1.20 MPa in trees and -1.42 to -1.72 MPa in seedlings. The morning leaf conductance (gwAM) of R. arboreum trees ranged from 58.00 to 271.68 m mol m-2 sec-1. Correlation showed that the maximum leaf conductance in R. arboreum trees was observed when the ΨPD was -0.5 to -0.9 MPa. Water uptake function in plants is generally affected by winter frost which can change the Ψ, osmotic potential, and leaf conductance of plants. The ΨPD in the species was relatively high across all seasons in the treeline areas to disrupt physiological activities.

Deciphering the Characteristics and Drivers of the Summer Monsoon Precipitation Extremes Over the Indian Himalayas

AbstractThis study investigates the physical processes behind extreme precipitation events (EPEs) in the Himalayas, notorious for causing frequent floods and significant loss of life and property. Due to the presence of complex terrain, understanding the driving factors of these EPEs is challenging. Here, we decipher the precipitation characteristics and their driving factors responsible for the occurrence of EPEs in the Western Himalayas (WH) for the period 1979–2020. EPEs are defined as events exceeding the 99th percentile threshold. The extreme precipitation in the WH is contributed by both large‐scale precipitation (accounting for 61%) and convective precipitation (39%). Moreover, 25.49% of EPEs in this region are directly associated with monsoon depressions. The presence of distinct upper‐tropospheric gyres flanking the WH, along with a prominent zonal wave pattern, promotes a southward extension of the trough. This intensifies the low‐level convergence of moisture‐laden winds from the adjoining seas, resulting in substantial moisture availability for the EPEs. An omega‐type blocking pattern emerges 4 days before EPEs, facilitating the intrusion of an extratropical cyclonic circulation. This circulation, characterized by its slow eastward and equatorward movement, leads to low‐level moisture flux convergence and ascending motions, which in turn trigger the EPEs. This highlights the crucial role of extratropical signals in driving EPEs and implies that tropical‐extratropical interactions play an important role in these EPEs. Furthermore, the shifting of the Intertropical Convergence Zone is strongly linked to the enhancement of the intensity of EPEs. Moreover, moisture budget analysis shows that EPEs over the WH are primarily driven by vertical advection, with the dynamic (thermodynamic) terms explaining 92% (8%) contribution. The intensified diabatic heating structure further enhances the convection, facilitating the development of deep convection which controls the local thermodynamics of these EREs. Lastly, our study demonstrated that most intensified and persistent EPEs over the Himalayas are found to be linked with Quasi‐Resonance Amplification, which is driven by baroclinic waves with 5 and 8 zonal wave numbers that contribute to these EPEs.

Analysis of Selected Macro- and Microelement Components in the Indigenous Soybean Cultivars from Regions of the Western Himalaya in India

The need to focus on traditional crops for food security has been realized across the globe. ‘Bhat’ is an indigenous soybean variety from the Indian Himalayan Region that has been neglected in recent times due to changing agricultural choices. The present study was conducted on 52 indigenous soybean accessions collected from different villages of Uttarakhand, a hilly state in Northern India, to determine the concentrations of various macro- and microelements in the crop. The analysis used the HHXRF (handheld X-ray fluorescence) spectroscopic technique and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The findings reveal that the ‘bhat’ is an extremely nutrient-rich crop with calcium being the most significant macronutrient (highest concentration of 27,300 ppm), followed by phosphorus, potassium, and sulphur found in the bhat seeds. The study suggests that samples from Pauri Garhwal (Gwad Khirsu, Bironkhal, Sripur), Tehri (PratapNagar, Singoli), Chamoli (Paini, and Agastyamuni) villages were rich in all the major macronutrients. Among the micronutrients, silicon was found to be the most dominant with the highest concentration of 1920 ppm. This was followed by the dominance of iron, zinc, and manganese in descending order of abundance. Tipri, Chandola Rai Goonth, Chopdiun, and Paini villages were found to have the highest concentrations of microelements. The statistical data analysis confirms that seed samples from different regions are significantly similar in terms of nutrient concentrations, except for Si and Fe, thereby indicating that ‘bhat’ from any of the villages is equally good for consumption. However, seed samples from certain regions were found to be contaminated with heavy metals, indicating soil pollution, which demands attention towards current agricultural practices. The findings show that the crop is an exceptional source of essential and quasi-essential elements and should be promoted to benefit the hill populations.

Delineation of Management Zones for Site‐Specific Soil Nutrient Management for Sustainable Crop Production

ABSTRACTSoil nutrients deficiencies are one of the major causes of soil degradation in different parts of World, adversely impacting crop production. Delineation of soil nutrients management zones (MZs) is one of the commonly used techniques for evaluating spatial distribution pattern of soil parameters for adoption of site‐specific nutrient management. We, therefore, conducted the present study to understand the spatial distribution pattern of soil nutrients and their associated soil properties, and to delineate soil nutrients MZs in a north‐western Indian Himalayan (NWIH) region. A total of 18,930 representative surface (0–15 cm depth) soil samples were collected and processed. The processed soil sample were analyzed for pH, and electrical conductivity (EC), soil organic carbon (SOC), available N (AN), available P (AP), available potassium (AK), exchangeable Ca (Ex. Ca), exchangeable Mg (Ex. Mg), available S (AS), available Zn (AZn), available Fe (AFe), available Cu (ACu), available Mn (AMn) and available B (AB). The values of studied soil parameters varied widely with coefficient of variation ranging from 11.8% to 156%. Semivariogram analysis revealed stable, exponential and Gaussian best‐fit models for different soil parameters with weak (AP and AB), moderate (rest of soil parameters) and strong (AS) spatial dependence. Varied distribution pattern of soil parameters was visualized from ordinary kriging interpolation. Five soil nutrient management zones (MZs) were identified (using fuzzy performance index and normalized classification entropy values) by employing the techniques of principal component analysis and fuzzy c‐means clustering. Principal components with Eigen value > 1 were considered for further analysis. The soil parameters of identified MZs differed significantly. Thus, the study highlighted the usefulness of MZ delineation technique for site‐specific soil nutrient management in different cultivated areas for sustainable crop production. The developed MZ maps could suitably be used for efficient management of agronomic inputs especially fertilizer nutrients for improved environmental and economic efficiency.

Features, reasons, and significance of radon and thoron attributable radiological dose in the indoor environment

Humans receive around 50% of natural radiation dose due to 222Rn (radon), 220Rn (thoron) and their decay products. Several field campaigns measuring these gases and the decay products in different regions of India have been conducted in the recent past. Some of these studies measured indoor activity concentration and/or dose due to these gases and the associated decay products. This work compares the fraction of 222Rn and decay products and 220Rn and decay products in inhalation dose for 10 studies conducted in Uttarakhand state. It is seen that AEDT (annual effective dose due to 220Rn and decay products) for these regions varies between 21 and 48% and it is significantly higher than the averaged worldwide reference value of 6%. Based on elaborative measurements performed in the Bageshwar district (present work), Almora and Nainital districts (our previous campaigns); the reasons for this high value have been explored. It was observed that a higher source term for mud houses could be the main reason for the high AEDT range. Interestingly, preliminary analysis revealed that the fraction is higher for the dwellings situated at higher altitudes thus indicating the role of the unavailability of modern building construction materials at remote locations. The study highlights the significant contribution of thoron in the Indian Himalayas.

Impact of regional climate change on apple yield in Himachal Pradesh, India

Climate change has become a major global as well as regional challenge because of its adverse effects on biodiversity and agriculture. Himachal Pradesh, a state in India, is situated in the western Indian Himalayan region, which predominantly features an agricultural economy, with apple being the major cash crop of the region. This paper presents the trend analysis of climatic parameters to delineate the effect of climate change on the apple yield in the region from 1991 to 2018. The temperature and rainfall data were obtained from the Indian metrological department, while snowfall data and ambient air quality data were collected from the database of NASA. The chill unit was calculated using the UTAH model. The climatic parameters were compared with apple yield to identify the impact of climate change on the crop. Therefore, apple yield reduction risk was calculated. The trend analysis indicated a temperature decrease during the monsoon months and a temperature increase during winters. The same analysis also indicated decreased snowfall by 0.375 kg/m2 and increased rainfall during the spring season by 23.2 mm, 19.6 mm, 10.4 mm (between mid-February and mid-April from 1985 to 2020). The chill units and apple production showed a positive correlation. In summary, our results indicated that climate change has reduced the apple yield by 11.48%.

Soil erodibility mapping using remote sensing and in situ soil data with random forest model in a mountainous catchment of Indian Himalayas.

Land degradation is accelerating in the Himalayan ecosystem, resulting in the loss of soil nutrients due to severe erosion. Soil erosion presents a significant environmental challenge, resulting in both on-site and off-site consequences, such as reduced soil productivity and siltation in reservoirs. Soil erodibility (K factor), an inherent soil property, determines the susceptibility of soils to erosion. Sampling across hilly and mountainous terrain pose challenges due to its complex landscape. Despite these challenges, it is essential to study K factor variations in different land use/land cover types to comprehend the threat of erosion. Digital soil mapping offers an opportunity to overcome this limitation by providing spatial predictions of soil properties. The objective of our study is to map the spatial distribution of soil erodibility using the Random Forest (RF) model, a machine learning method based on sampled in situ soil data and environmental covariates. We collected 556 surface soil samples from the mountainous catchment (Tehri dam catchment) using the stratified random sampling approach. The model performed satisfactorily in both training (r2 = 0.91; RMSE = 0.00185) and testing (r2 = 0.45; RMSE = 0.00318) phases. Subsequently, we generated a digital map with a resolution of 12.5m to depict the distribution of the K factor. Our analysis revealed that key environmental variables influencing the prediction of the K factor included geology, mean NDVI, and climatic factors. The average K factor value was estimated at 0.0304 and ranging from 0.0251 to 0.0400 t ha h ha-1MJ-1mm-1. A higher K factor was observed in the barren land (0.0344) primarily located in the higher and trans-Himalayan region of seasonally snow-covered areas. These areas typically feature young soils with weak soil formation and unstable soil aggregates. Subsequently cropland/cultivated soils (0.0307) exhibited higher K factor values due to the breakdown of soil aggregates by ploughing activities and exposing carbon to decomposition. The average K factor value of evergreen (0.0294) and deciduous (0.0295) forests were the lowest compared to other land use/land cover types indicating the role of forests in resisting soil erosion. By assessing and predicting soil erodibility, land planners and farmers can implement erosion control measures to protect soil health, prevent sedimentation in water bodies, and sustain agricultural productivity in the Himalayas.

Integrative taxonomic review of the genus Rhodostrophia Hübner, 1823 and its allied genus Tanaotrichia Warren, 1893 (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) from the Western Himalaya

The genus Rhodostrophia Hübner, 1823 and its close ally Tanaotrichia Warren, 1893 (Geometridae: Sterrhinae) are reviewed from the North Western and Trans Himalayan regions of the Indian Himalaya along with some specimens from the Pakistan. In total, eight species were studied—seven Rhodostrophia spp. and one species of Tanaotrichia—with detailed morphological and genital characteristics. Rhodostrophia borealis stat. n. is raised from subspecies of R. cinerascens to species level after studying external morphology and distinct genitalia-based diagnostic features. However, this warrants further validation following the barcode sequencing of R. cinerascens. Illustrations of habitus, including type specimens, are provided along with images of genitalia and the sequence data of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI 5′ terminus) gene. A checklist of Indian Rhodostrophia and Tanaotrichia species is included with information on their documented distributional range.

Notes on Günther’s Oriental Slender Snake (<i>Trachischium guentheri</i>) from the Himalayan Realm of North Sikkim, India

The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) is known for its biodiversity, yet it faces substantial threats fromanthropogenic activities and climate change. Despite the ecological importance of the IHR, herpetofaunal studies,especially in the eastern Himalayan State of Sikkim, remain limited. We herein address aspects of natural history ofa fossorial snake, Günther’s Oriental Slender Snake (Trachischium guentheri) in North Sikkim. We encountered 25snakes during field surveys from 30 September to 12 October 2023 in the Lachen region at elevations of 2,549–2,918m asl. Responses of snakes to unusually high rainfall led to increased road mortality during the peak tourist season. Inresponse, we propose two specialized structures, featuring elevated barriers and elaborate hollow, trapezoidal concreteslabs, to mitigate roadkills. We also emphasize the importance of monitoring to identify areas with high traffic wheremeasures to mitigate road mortality should be employed.

Debris flow in indian himalaya: A threat to emerging infrastructure

Debris flow in indian himalaya: A threat to emerging infrastructure

Mass Balance Assessment Using the “AARTI” Approach in the Baspa Basin, Indian Himalayas

Mass Balance Assessment Using the “AARTI” Approach in the Baspa Basin, Indian Himalayas

Chemical Profiling and Cytotoxicity Activity of Essential Oil from Artemisia Maritima Collected through Four Different Wild Locations of Lahaul Valley in Indian Western Himalaya

AbstractThis research leads to the analysis of quality parameters and chemical profiles of Artemisia maritima essential oils (EOs) extracted from four different wild areas viz: Darcha, Jispa, Gemur and Tandi of Lahaul valley of Indian western Himalaya in comparison to a market sample. The EOs content was found higher in Darcha (0.54 %) and Jispa (0.48 %). The quality parameters such as color, odor, density, refractive index and optical rotations were found comparable with the market sample. Further, volatile chemo‐profile of EOs was generated using GC/GC‐MS. A total of 34 metabolites were identified in five samples (n=3) that account around 87.3–95.1 % of the total oils. These EOs majorly contained monoterpene hydrocarbons (3.0–68.5 %) and oxygenated monoterpenes (26.6–85.0 %) with β‐myrcene (9.8–20.6 %), α‐terpinene (0.7–17.3 %), β‐phellandrene (1.5–22.4 %), 1,8‐cineole (3.0–50.8 %), terpinen‐4‐ol (2.5–7.2 %), ascaridole (11.5 %), bornyl acetate (5.1–14.2 %), trans‐sabinyl acetate (0.8–49.6) and trans‐ascaridole (7.9 %). Moreover, cytotoxicity study of EOs against CaCo2 and HT‐29 human colon carcinoma cell lines unveiled significant anticancer potential of A. maritima. AMD (82.87±0.39 %) AMG (61.17±1.45 %) and AMM (73.37±2.1 %) showed comparable activity at 600 μg/ml (72 hr) in comparisons to vinblastine (20 μM). A. maritima is less explored as compared to other species and could be a new potential source for EOs and anticancer candidate.

Analyzing trend and forecasting of temperature and rainfall in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh, India using non-parametric and bagging REPTree machine learning approaches

The changing pattern of climate variables has caused extreme weather events and severe disasters, especially in mountainous regions. Such events have a detrimental impact on resources, environment and society. Thus, it has become imperative to examine the trends and forecasts of meteorological variables using a scientific modelling approach. This study investigates temperature and rainfall trends using the modified Mann-Kendall test and Sen's slope estimator between 1980 and 2021. A Bagging-REPTree machine learning model was utilized for forecasting temperature and rainfall trends for the next 30 years (2022–2051) to understand the temporal dynamics in Shimla district of the Indian Himalayan state. The mean absolute percentage error, mean absolute error, root mean squared error and correlation coefficient were determined to assess the effectiveness and precision of the model. The findings revealed that the frequency of intense rainfall in the district has increased during the monsoon season (June–September) from 1980 to 2021. Significant trends were found in annual rainfall, maximum, minimum and mean temperatures while rainfall during the winter, summer and post-monsoon seasons has shown a declining trend. The forecast analysis revealed a significant trend for rainfall during the monsoon season and an increasing trend in the maximum temperature has been observed during the winter and summer seasons. The analysis has provided sufficient evidence of variability and uncertainty in the behavior of meteorological variables. The outcome of the study may help in devising suitable adaptation and mitigation strategies to combat climate change in hilly regions. The methodology adopted in the study may help in the future progression of the research in different geographical regions for trend and climate forecasting.

Characterization, quantitation, and natural variability of phenolics in Rhododendron arboreum leaves of western Himalayan origin using UPLC-PDA and UHPLC-ESI-Q/TOF-MS/MS

Rhododendron arboreum Sm. is very popular in the Indian Himalayan region due to its significant ethnomedicinal importance and potential commercial applications. Apart from the ornamental value derived from its vibrant red flowers, fresh flowers are used to prepare medicinal juices, and dried are utilized as spices. Despite being a rich source of phenolics, these lack identified marker chemicals and validated methods. The present work encompasses the chemical investigation of R. arboreum leaves using UHPLC-ESI-Q/TOF-MS/MS. The chemotypic variability was assessed through a reverse phase ultra-performance liquid chromatography method coupled with a photodiode array detector (RP-UPLC-PDA) chemical signatures of R. arboreum leaves from different altitudes combined with chemometric analysis. The chromatographic method was developed and validated for the quantitative analysis of three vital secondary metabolites, i.e., Isoquercetin or Quercetin-3-O-glucoside (Qg), Reynoutrin or Quercetin-3-O-xyloside (Qx), and Quercitrin or Quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside (Qr)The hyphenation of the method with ESI-Q/TOF-MS/MS has confirmed the distribution of 11 chemicals (nine known and two unknown) in R. arboreum leaves belonging to the phenolic and hydrolyzable tannins class. Samples from higher altitudes >3000 m (above mean sea level) were exceptionally rich in Quercitrin. The chemometric investigation, comprising hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), principal component analysis (PCA), and partial least square method-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), successfully categorized thirty-three samples from diverse geographic regions into two distinct categories. This current study provides a validated method for the chemotypic discrimination and quality assessment of the R. arboreum leaves from Uttarakhand, Western Himalayan region of India, and laid the foundation for the comprehensive utilization of these renewable and sustainable resources.

A comparative evaluation of statistical and machine learning approaches for debris flow susceptibility zonation mapping in the Indian Himalayas

A comparative evaluation of statistical and machine learning approaches for debris flow susceptibility zonation mapping in the Indian Himalayas

Assessing sediment dynamics and retention services in the vulnerable mountain ecosystem of the Indian Himalayas.

Sediment loss and export pose significant global environmental issues, profoundly affecting water quality, soil fertility, and ecosystem stability, particularly in vulnerable mountain ecosystems like the Indian Himalayas. The present study used remote sensing data and the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs (InVEST) sediment delivery ratio (SDR) model to analyze spatial-temporal variations in soil loss (SL), sediment export (SE), and sediment retention (SR) capabilities in the South Shimla watershed, Himachal Pradesh, India, from 1993 to 2023. The findings showed significant changes in land use and land cover (LULC): evergreen forest and scrub land decreased sharply by 11.53% and 36.43%, respectively, while agricultural areas and built-up areas increased notably by 71.16% and 215.76%, respectively. Despite a decline of 19.18% in SL and 24.43% in SE, sediment loss and export varied across the study area, highlighting the heterogeneous nature of sediment dynamics. The overall retention capacity increased by 2.59%, with scrub forests playing a critical role in SR, while built-up areas showed the lowest retention. Northern and central sub-watersheds (SWs) experienced a significant decrease in retention capacity (from - 1.92 to - 11.6%), whereas those in the southern and eastern regions saw an increase in SR (from 3.69 to 28.24%). These results underscore the complex interactions between LULC changes, sediment dynamics, and retention services, highlighting the importance of preserving natural ecosystems and informing policy for landscape-based conservation and development planning in the vulnerable Himalayan region.