Pauri Garhwal Research Articles

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.

Impact of Organic Manures and Liquid Formulations on Garlic Growth, Yield and Quality in Uttarakhand, India

The field study was carried out to VCSG, UUHF, Pauri Garhwal in 2022-2023 to investigate the integrated effect of organic manures and organic liquid formulations on the growth and yield of garlic. The main objective of this study was to determine the benefits of using organic manures and liquid formulations over conventional farming because the abundant use of nitrogenous fertilizers causes excessive vegetative growth at the expense of bulb formation. Among fourteen different treatment combinations that consist of various combinations of organic manures (FYM and Vermicompost) and organic liquid formulations (Panchgavya and Jeevamrit) treatment T3 i.e., FYM (10t/ha) + Panchgavya (2%) emerged as the best treatment concerning growth and yield of garlic. The findings showed that the maximum plant height (69.080 cm), number of leaves (8.400), leaf length (47.880 cm) and breadth (3.207 cm), and leaf area index (1.023) at all the 30 days intervals after sowing of garlic has been observed with the application of Treatment T3. The fundamental reason for the increased growth might be due to growth-promoting substances like auxins and gibberellins in panchgavya and high nitrogen and phosphorus in FYM. Concerning yield and quality attributes, the bulb diameter (5.657 cm), fresh weight of bulb (64.643 cm), length of the bulb (5.853 cm), number of cloves per bulb (12.200), bulb yield (120.833 q), total chlorophyll content (2.127 mg/g) and ascorbic acid content (15.333 mg/100g) was obtained maximum with the application of same treatment T3 i.e., FYM (10t/ha) + Panchgavya (2%) with yield increases up to 30% compared to control. However, the harvest index percent was found to be maximum (89.243 %) in treatment T13 i.e., Vermicompost (5t/ha) + Jeevamrit (6%). These findings suggest that organic farming practices can effectively enhance garlic production, offering a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers. Moreover, this study provides practical insights for farmers and contributes to the growing body of research on sustainable agriculture.

Predicted Interventions for Improving the Nutritional Status of Vulnerable Groups of Uttarakhand: Evidence from Comparison between NFHS-5 and NFHS-4 Survey

Background: Nutritional status is an indicator of the overall well-being of a people. In view of this effect, a study was undertaken to compare the nutritional status of vulnerable groups (viz women of reproductive age group 15 to 49 years, pregnant women’s, adolescent girls and children aged 6 to 59 months of Uttarakhand. Methods: The data of the state under study was compared with national data. NFHS 4 and 5 data were used to analyse the health and nutritional trend of the identified groups over the reporting period of 5 years, to identify interventions and to help formulate policies for improving the nutritional status of the state. Result: The decreasing trend in the case of underweight women and the increasing trend in the percentage of overweight women were noted in every district. In the case of anemia among children aged 6 to 59 months, most of the districts had managed to reduce the prevalence of anemia in the last 5 years. Most of the districts have seen a decreased trend in anemia among pregnant women and among adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 years. The study reveals that the nutritional status of the vulnerable population of Uttarakhand has improved over the last five years, however, still, some districts (Tehri Garhwal, Dehradun, Chamoli, Pauri Garhwal, Uttarkashi and Rudraprayag) need special attention. A comparison of the improvement between the state and national data depicts that the state of Uttarakhand performed better than the nation in all categories except in reducing the cases of undernutrition in women. It may be postulated from the study that health and nutritional programmes have been effective in meeting their targets to a great extent. However, to further improve the condition of the population, district-specific developmental programmes need to be formulated, with a special focus on eradicating undernutrition among women.

PLANT PARASITIC NEMATODE (PPNS) INVESTIGATION IN SELECTED SITE OF LOWER HILLS OF UTTARAKHAND, INDIA

These findings can be valuable tools for long-term monitoring and for comprehending regional soil. Nematodes are essential components of soil the soil community capable of surviving extreme and diverse climatic conditions. The diversity and distribution of soil nematodes were studied from the agricultural crop from the selected localities of Pauri Garhwal (1,814 mASL, 29.18ºC to 14.26ºC), A total of 110 soil samples were collected attitudinally from subarea of Pauri Gharwal. The present study revealed that the nematode diversity consist of 54 genera. The nematode diversity structure also demonstrated sensitivity to various other climatic parameters. Elevation significantly influenced biodiversity indices, diversity composition, and trophic levels. Nematode genera richness and all regular indexes indicated lower biodiversity of soil nematodes at higher altitudes. These findings can be valuable tools for long-term monitoring and for comprehending regional soil health in the face of changing environmental conditions.

An Assessment of Death Profile of Unknown Dead Bodies, Brought for Autopsy to the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology in Government Medical College of Garhwal Region, Uttarakhand: A Retrospective Study

Background:an unknown dead body always becomes a challenge to the Investigating officer and forensic expert. However, the problem of determining the identity gets aggravated and taxes for the experts, when the dead body is recovered in decomposed/ skeletonized and mutilated form. Materials and Methods: A standard proforma was designed to collect the information to ensureconsistency for the whole sample. All dead bodies that were brought as unidentified were included however identified dead bodies were excluded from the study. Results:A total of 407 post-mortem examinations were conducted at the mortuary of the department during under study and amongst them, 56 cases (13.75%) were found unidentified. Of these unidentified cases, 69.64% (39 cases) were in decomposed and 30.35% (17 cases) were in fresh state. Unidentified cases comprised 80.35% males (45 cases) and 19.64% females (11 cases). Conclusion:Unidentified dead bodies were only 13.75% of the total dead bodies coming to the autopsy in the mortuary of the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, VCSGGIMS & R, Srikot, Srinagar, Pauri Garhwal, UTTARAKHAND during the study period of 5 years.

Trichinella spp. in Slaughtered Pigs of India: From Neglected Disease to an Emerging Food Safety Threat for Public Health

Background. In India, Trichinella nematode worm remains highly neglected due to the paucity of research. Recent trichinellosis outbreaks in humans associated with pork meal in north India have highlighted an emerging food safety concern due to this neglected parasite. Aim. This study aimed to ascertain the existence of Trichinella species and to identify them in slaughtered pigs intended for human consumption in the Punjab and Uttaranchal regions of North India. Materials and Methods. A total of 1,194 slaughter pig tongue samples were screened in 239 pools using the double separatory funnel method for recovery of Trichinella larvae. The species of recovered larvae were confirmed by multiplex PCR assay and sequencing. A phylogenetic tree was constructed to ascertain the closest lineage. Results. This study reported 3.77% and 1.26% Trichinella positivity in pooled and individual pig samples, respectively. Pigs slaughtered in Punjab reported higher positivity (1.73%) than pigs in Uttaranchal (0.81%). Among all places, Jalandhar recorded highest positivity of 5.66%, followed by 2.22% in Nainital and 0.8% in Patiala, whereas none of the pig samples from Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Bathinda, Tehri Garhwal, Pauri Garhwal, Kashipur, Haridwar was positive. Molecular confirmation by PCR and sequencing confirmed the recovered Trichinella larvae as T. britovi and T. nelsoni. Conclusion. Trichinella parasite remained highly neglected in India; however, the detection of sylvatic Trichinella species in pigs intended for human consumption indicated the emergence of zoonotic foodborne risk at wild animal-domestic pig and human interfaces. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study reporting T. britovi and T. nelsoni in pigs of North India. Trichinella positivity in slaughtered pigs is an early alarm for the emergence of foodborne risk from this neglected parasitic worm. Considering the importance of pigs as a source of meat and their role as a reservoir for Trichinella raised the food safety concern that warrants strict meat inspection and extensive studies on neglected parasites in India.

Peak Performance: Time Management Competency and Academic Achievement Among Secondary Students in Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand

Peak Performance: Time Management Competency and Academic Achievement Among Secondary Students in Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand

Occurence of Garden Pebble Moth Evergestis Forcifalis in Mid Hills of Garhwal, Uttarakhand

Garden pebble moth Evergestis forficalis (L.) (Lepidoptera, Crambidae), was observed on cruciferous plants especially radish, rye and cabbage during August 2019 at Vegetable Research and Demonstration Block of Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry, Bharsar Pauri Garhwal Uttarakhand. The pest was active in the field and the larvae severely infested radish plants. The adult emergence was delayed due to harsh climatic conditions of Bharsar. The adult was seen in December.

Integrated Management of Cabbage Aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae L.)

The present investigation entitled “Integrated Management of Cabbage Aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae L.)” was carried out at Department of Entomology as well as field of Vegetable Research and Demonstration Block, College of Horticulture, VCSG Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry, Bharsar, Pauri Garhwal during 2022. Seasonal incidence of Cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae) revealed that the maximum numbers of aphid, (784.05 nymphs/plants and 506.32 adults/plants) were recorded during 23rd SMW viz., 2nd week of June. Correlation studies indicated that aphid population exhibited highly significant positive correlation with maximum temperature and minimum temperature and significant negative correlation with morning and evening relative humidity. While rainfall showed non-significant positive correlation with aphid population. Efficacy of different treatments (Cultural practices (Weeding) + Yellow sticky trap), (Garlic extract + Red pepper extract), (Onion extract + Yellow sticky trap), (Neem leaf extract + Cow urine), (Thiamethoxam 25 WG + Beauveria bassiana), (L-cyhalothrin 5 EC + Beauveria bassiana) and (Biological control + Mechanical control) were evaluated by two sprays at 3, 5 and 7 days interval against aphid (B. brassicae) during year 2022. After 1st and 2nd application highest reduction in aphid population (77.37 and 93.57) and maximum yield (5.85 kg/plot and 541.66 q/ha) over pre treatment was recorded in L-cyhalothrin 5 EC incorporated with Beauveria bassiana.

Management of Alternaria Leaf Spot of Brinjal (Solanum melongena) Caused by Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler Through Botanicals (In vitro)

The present investigation entitled “Management of Alternaria Leaf Spot of Brinjal (Solanum melongena) caused by Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler Through Botanicals” was carried out at Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali, Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry, Bharsar, Pauri Garhwal during year 2021 – 22. Brinjal is a highly productive crop and usually finds its place as poor man’s crop. Fruits are an excellent source of vitamin A, especially those in the ‘B’ group. Brinjal crop suffers from several diseases caused by various plant pathogens. Alternaria leaf spot caused by Alternaria alternata (Keissler) is an imported disease of brinjal crop in India. The result obtained in the present research study maximum mycelium growth of pathogen was observed on Potato dextrose agar media (88.75 mm) at 7th day and among the botanicals, maximum inhibition was recorded in Garlic (51.58 mm) followed by Turmeric (51.03 mm) at 15% of concentration.

The Impact of Co-curricular activities on Teaching-learning Processes in Pauri Garhwal District of Uttarakhand

The primary goals of co-curricular activities are to focus on the individual (student), institutional, and broader community levels. The developmentof an individual is the principal goal of co-curricular activities. Numerous experiences have proven that these activities positively impact thestudent’s emotional, intellectual, social, and interpersonal development. Students can learn to negotiate, communicate, and manage conflictthrough working with others. Taking part in these events out of the classroom activities helps students to understand the importance of criticalthinking skills, time management, and academic/intellectual competence. The study highlights the impact of various co-curricular activities onthe teaching-learning process and further explores the correlation between teachers’ academic experience and students’ academic performancein the purview of co-curricular activities.

Evaluation of Fungicides, Botanicals and Bio-control Agents against Sclerotinia Rot of Cauliflower caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary under in-vitro Condition

The present investigation entitled “Evaluation of Fungicides, Botanicals and Bio-control agents against Sclerotinia rot of Cauliflower caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary under in-vitro condition” was carried out at Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali, Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry, Bharsar, Pauri Garhwal during year 2021– 22. Cauliflower is important vegetable crop rich in Vitamin A, C, ascorbic acid, potassium, sodium, iron, copper and manganese. Sclerotinia rot is very destructive disease in cauliflower which cause serious problem during rainy and humid climate. The result obtained in the present research study maximum mycelium growth of pathogen was observed on potato dextrose agar media (88.75 mm) at 7th day and the maximum mycelium growth of pathogen was observed at 200C (90.00 mm) at 7th day. The pH 5 shown maximum dry weight of mycelial growth (195.25 mg) at 14th. In vitro effect of different botanicals, fungicides and biocontrol agents were tested against the Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Result revealed that Garlic was effectively inhibited 89.24% mycelial growth of the test pathogen at 15% concentration. The fungicides Carbendazim and Hexaconazole inhibited 100% mycelial growth of the test pathogen at 50 ppm and Propiconazole inhibited 100% mycelial growth of the test pathogen at 200 ppm. The biocontrol agent Trichoderma viride and Trichoderma harzianum were effectively inhibited 72.21 and 63.11% mycelial growth of the test pathogen.

Air pollution and its effects on lung health in never-smoker youth of Delhi NCR versus Pauri Garhwal: a comparative cross-sectional study

BackgroundAmbient air pollution is a major factor that can affect lung growth and reduce lung capacity. This study aims at drawing parallel between respiratory discomfort and lung function between youth of Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) where air pollution level is poor and hazardous as compared to that of Pauri Garhwal (Uttarakhand) where air pollution level is low via a comparative cross-sectional study. MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study conducted among 354 never-smoker subjects (177 from NCR and 177 from Pauri) between the ages of 15 and 29 years. Pulmonary Function Test coupled with COPD Assessment Test (CAT)-based questionnaire for respiratory problems helped elicit information regarding lung health of subjects. ResultsMean forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1st second (FEV1), forced expiratory flow 25–75%, FEV1/FVC ratio, and peak expiratory flow rate were lower by 12.9%, 17%, 5%, 7.8%, and 7.3%, respectively, in NCR participants as compared to that of Pauri. Upon spirometry, restrictive pattern was present in 40 (22.6%), and obstructive pattern was present in 9 (5.1%) of NCR participants. Out of these, nine (5.1%) having obstructive pattern, five (55.6%) had 50% ≤ FEV1<80%, and four (44.4%) had 30% ≤ FEV1<50% of predicted value. Neither restrictive nor obstructive pattern was found evident in subjects from Pauri. The mean CAT score in subjects from NCR was 5.2 ± 4.9 and .46 ± 1.1 in subjects from Pauri. ConclusionSubjects belonging to NCR performed poorly in spirometry and reported higher respiratory complaints in comparison to participants from Pauri Garhwal.

Botanical origin and chemical composition of bee pollens collected from Apis cerana hives domesticated in the Pauri Garhwal, Western Himalaya, India

The present investigation aims to determine the botanical origin and chemical composition of bee pollen samples (n =22) harvested from Apis cerana hives domesticated in Pauri Garhwal (Uttarakhand, India). The majority (95%) of the samples were unifloral in their botanical origin. All the identified pollens belonged to eighteen plant families, among which Rutaceae, Asteraceae and Brassicaceae were found dominant. The chemical parameters soluble sugars, starch, crude protein, amino acids and phenolic contents were analyzed calorimetrically and were found in the range from 0.2 to 26.09 mg/g, 0.22 to 11.04 mg/g, 13.40 to 191.41 mg/g, 2.01 to 6.48 mg/g, and 5.10 to 35.50 mg GAE/g, respectively. Statistically significant differences (p&lt;0.05) were observed between the chemical contents of the analyzed samples and a moderate correlation (r= 0.40; n=22) was observed between total soluble sugars and crude protein. Bee pollens as a good source of nutrition, medicine and dietary supplement for both humans and bees, demonstrate the important need to define bee pollen from different regions of India in order to develop bee pollen quality standards.

An Evaluation of Profile of Medico-Legal Autopsy Cases Reported at Department of Forensic Medicine &amp; Toxicology inA Government Medical College of Garhwal Region, Uttarakhand: A Retrospective Study

Background: The profile of medico-legal autopsy cases is crucial to determining the mortality rates in a specificlocation owing to new causes and also aids in addressing the demographic demands in accordance with thoserates.Materials and Methods: The present study is a retrospective study of autopsies performed at Department ofForensic Medicine &amp; Toxicology,VCSGGIMS &amp; R, Srikot, Srinagar, Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, from 1st January2020 to 31st December 2021. During this period a total of 156 autopsy cases were conducted. Relevant informationand subjective data like age, sex, marital status &amp; manner of death have been collected from medico legal autopsyregister.Results: Out of 156 cases analysed, maximum number of autopsies were in the age group of 21-30 years with 41cases (26.28%) andmajority of were males 119(76.2%). Accidents accounted (58.3%),suicide (24.3%) and suddendeath (17.3%) cases. Maximum number of deaths were due to road traffic accidents with 82 cases (52.5%) followedby natural death with 27 cases (17.3%).Conclusion: In our study we found that majority of cases were in 3rd and 4th decade of life, majority cases weremales as compared to females, and Hindus being majority in number formed bulk of cases.

Seasonal Variation On Infant Mortality: A Study Based On Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand

Infant mortality is a key indicator of national health, as it is linked to many factors such as maternal health, quality of life and access to health care facilities, economic conditions, and public health systems. The infant mortality rate (IMR), expressed as the rate per 1000 children born within a year and die before reaching the age of one, has been the subject of many studies and public policies. Uttarakhand’s infant mortality rate was decreased 42 to, 40 and 39.1as per NFHS-3 (2005-06), NFHS-4 (2015-16) and NFHS-5 (2020-21) respectively. Infant mortality is considered to be the best indicator of how a society meets the needs of its people. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of seasonal changes on infant mortality in selected areas in Pauri Garhwal (Uttarakhand). In this study, infant mortality data was collected for six consecutive years (2017- 2022) from various health centres in Pauri Garhwal Nagar Palika. Seasonal variation in total infant mortality was analysed using monthly mortality data collected during the study period. Regression models are used to measure seasonal effects on total infant mortality. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software. The frequency of infant deaths in winter month December was very high compared to other seasons. The majority of infant deaths were reported due to cold weather in this study area, especially in November and December. This study concludes that seasonal differences significantly affect infant mortality in Pauri-Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India. Because children are most sensitive to environmental conditions in the first year of life, policy makers should consider the effect of seasonality on infant mortality.

Exploring Factors Shaping Mobile Application Usage in Rural Uttarakhand: A Study in Selected Villages of Chamoli, Pauri, Rudraprayag, Tehri, and Uttarkashi Districts

This research aimed to investigate the impact of diverse factors on the usage behavior of mobile applications among users in the rural regions of Uttarakhand specifically in villages situated in Chamoli, Pauri Garhwal, Rudraprayag, Tehri Garhwal, and Uttarkashi districts. The primary objective was to ascertain whether factors such as the Ease of Use of applications, Privacy &amp; Security considerations, Satisfaction levels, Digital Literacy levels, and Internet Accessibility collectively influence the usage behavior of mobile application users. To conduct the study, a descriptive research design was employed, and primary data was collected from rural areas in Uttarakhand. The influence of various factors was analyzed using the ANOVA test. The findings of the study indicate that all the aforementioned factors significantly impact the usage behavior of mobile applications in these rural areas. Additionally, the study suggests a widespread increase in the future adoption of mobile applications in these regions.

Antibacterial, Antioxidant and Nutraceutical Potential of New Culinary-Medicinal Mushroom Russula lakhanpalii (Agaricomycetes) from India.

Russula lakhanpalii is a wild edible mushroom, collected from Pedkhal block of Pauri Garhwal, India. The nutritional composition, antioxidant activity (AOA), and antibacterial activity (ABA) of R. lakhanpalii were analyzed for the first time in this study. Dried fruiting bodies of R. lakhanpalii were reported to contain 17.7% ash, 10% crude fiber, 13.4% protein, 30.9% carbohydrate, and 5% unsaturated lipids. In addition, 10.22-72.56% DPPH scavenging activity also confirmed the good antioxidant nature of R. lakhanpalii. The methanolic extract of R. lakhanpalii fruiting bodies inhibited the growth of five pathogenic bacteria in vitro; Klebsiella pneumoniae (MTCC 4030), Micrococcus luteus (MTCC 1809), Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 1144), Escherichia coli (MTCC 68), and Streptococcus pneumoniae (MTCC 655). The maximum and minimum zone of inhibitions (ZOIs) reported were 17.8 ± 1.04 mm (K. pneumoniae) and 11.16 ± 0.76 mm, (E. coli), respectively. The noticeable feature of the extract was the inhibition of erythromycin-resistant E. coli and M. luteus by it, which were resistant to 15 μg/disc concentration of erythromycin. Dietary components, antibacterial and antioxidant potentials of R. lakhanpalii suggested its nutraceutical and medicinal applications.

Consequences of Rural Out-migration in District Pauri Garhwal Uttarakhand

The study was carried out in the year 2020-2022. The study examined the consequences of out-migration in the district Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand; as migration is one of the most concerned topics in the state. Data was obtained through a primary questionnaire-based surveys &amp; secondary sources. In the study random stratified sampling is done. It examined the socio-economic characteristics of the studied area. The study found that agriculture &amp; Allied activities like livestock, fruit &amp; vegetable processing units or forest-based products are and may become a prime source of income in the Hill rural district. There is significant evidence that out-migration is helping rural families to improve their personal well being through remittances, but it also has an adverse impact in the form of permanent migration and workload over women. In the last decade approximately 5 lakh people migrated temporarily or permanently from the state (URDMC 2018). Out of these, 42% were of 26 to 35 years’ old. Out-migration is affecting various traditional systems of rural areas. The study finds that people are migrating in search of employment from Hill areas to Plains Urban centres. The study supports the policy which may increase the income of rural people and demote migration in rural areas.

Morphological Identification and Description of Oscheius from Srinagar, Pauri Garhwal Uttarakhand, India

Morphological Identification and Description of Oscheius from Srinagar, Pauri Garhwal Uttarakhand, India