Plains Of India Research Articles

Genetic variability for plant growth, fruit, seed and biochemical traits in bell pepper breeding populations under North Indian plains

The present research aimed to estimate the plant growth, fruit yield, seed and biochemical traits among the seven pepper parental lines and their six BC2F1 populations in order to generate information regarding the extent of genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance. The study was conducted using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications at the Vegetable Research Farm of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed significant mean squares due to parents and BC2F1 populations for almost all the studied traits, it indicating the presence of a sufficient amount of inherent variability among the parental line and developed populations which could be exploited via selection. The plant height, fruit weight, fruit width, number of lobes fruit-1, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, chlorophyll a and total fruit yield plant-1 were recorded high GCV and PCV among the parental lines and developed populations BC2F1, indicating higher extent of variability for these traits in the evaluated genotypes. The results revealed that traits with high GCV and PCV offer a better scope for improvement through simple selection. High heritability and high estimates of genetic advance were determined for the traits viz., plant height, fruit weight, ascorbic acid content and total fruit yield plant-1, in both parents and populations. Based on these results, we can conclude that these traits are under the additive gene effects and that above mentioned characters could be considered as a good selection indices in bell pepper.

Gunja (Abrus Precatorius): A Review

Gunja (Abrus precatorius Linn.), also known as Indian liquorice, is regarded as one of the most toxic but also visually stunning seeds in the world. It is classified as an Upavisha (semipoisonous medication) and is utilised widely in several Ayurvedic formulations with significant medicinal value. According to Ayurveda, Gunja should only be administered after appropriate Shodhana (purification techniques) using various media, including Godugdha (cow's milk), Kanji (sour gruel), etc. Common names for Abrus precatorius Linn. include Gunja and Jequirity, and it is widely distributed throughout India's plains. It is classified as an Upavisha (semi-poisonous medications) and is widely utilised in several Ayurvedic formulations with significant therapeutic value. It has been noted that Gunja’s seed, root, fruit, and leaves are used as an ingredient in many formulations. Netra roga (Eye Diseases), Khalitya (Alopecia), Sarpa Visha (Snake Poison), Jwar (Fever), Indralupta (Alopecia),Keshya (Hair Tonic), Prameha (Urinary Disorder), etc. are some of the diseases.Different dosage forms are used to administer different parts of the Gunja plant, including swarasa (juice), kwatha (decoction), lepa (paste), anjan (application in the eye), avaleha (semi-solid preparations), taila (oil), rasa (mineral preparation), vati (pills), modaka (solid dosage form)ghrita (fat soluble preparations) & churna (powder).

Acute Yellow Oleander Poisoning-Its Cardiotoxicity and Clinical Profile: A Study on Eastern India Population

Background: Yellow oleander/Cerebra thevetia/Pila kaner a plant widely cultivated in the plains in india is highlypoisonous. Kernels of the seeds contain glycosides thevetin, thevetoxin, cerberin, and peruvoside. Poisoningusually leads to gastrointestinal and cardiac toxicity.Aims and Objectives: Our aim was to determine the clinical profile of yellow oleander poisoning with specialemphasis on cardiac toxicity, neurotoxicity if any and outcome of management using currently available treatment.Materials and Methods: We studied 60 patients with yellow oleander poisoning prospectively admitted inHospital. A 12 lead electrocardiogram 3 min rhythm ECG strip and blood sample for measurement of electrolytes,Serum calcium, urea and creatinine and liver function tests were taken before treatment. ECG was also done inevery patient on 2nd day of admission and at the time of discharge. Serum cardiac glycosides could not be donedue to lack of facilities.Results: Toxic manifestations included were Gastrointestinal, cardiac toxicity in the form of cardiac arrhythmia butSome patients developed neurological symptoms in the form of tremor (6 patients -10%), ataxia( 8 patients-13.33%)at the end of first week, and focal seizure (only four patients-6.66%).Conclusion: In our study we found gastrointestinal symptoms(vomitting, loose motion with dehydration) andcardiological symptoms (sinus tachycardia, sinus bradycardia, AV block and nodal rhythm, ventricular ectopicsare more commonly present in Yellow oleander poisoning. Moreover we have found some Neurological symptomsin our study in the form of tremor,ataxia and focal seizures.

Using Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2, and Planet satellite data to map field-level tillage practices in smallholder systems.

Remote sensing can be used to map tillage practices at large spatial and temporal scales. However, detecting such management practices in smallholder systems is challenging given that the size of fields is smaller than historical readily-available satellite imagery. In this study we used newer, higher-resolution satellite data from Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2, and Planet to map tillage practices in the Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains in India. We specifically tested the classification performance of single sensor and multiple sensor random forest models, and the impact of spatial, temporal, or spectral resolution on classification accuracy. We found that when considering a single sensor, the model that used Planet imagery (3 m) had the highest classification accuracy (86.55%) while the model that used Sentinel-1 data (10 m) had the lowest classification accuracy (62.28%). When considering sensor combinations, the model that used data from all three sensors achieved the highest classification accuracy (87.71%), though this model was not statistically different from the Planet only model when considering 95% confidence intervals from bootstrap analyses. We also found that high levels of accuracy could be achieved by only using imagery from the sowing period. Considering the impact of spatial, temporal, and spectral resolution on classification accuracy, we found that improved spatial resolution from Planet contributed the most to improved classification accuracy. Overall, it is possible to use readily-available, high spatial resolution satellite data to map tillage practices of smallholder farms, even in heterogeneous systems with small field sizes.

Irrigation water policies for sustainable groundwater management in irrigated north­western plains of India

Irrigation water policies for sustainable groundwater management in irrigated north­western plains of India

Advancing Sowing Time and Conservation Tillage - The Climate-Resilient Approach to Enhance the Productivity and Profitability of Wheat.

Field experiments consisting of two sowing time (early and timely), two tillage options (conventional tillage and conservation tillage) and ten genotypes were conducted with the aim to maximize the wheat productivity and profitability. The early sowing (second fortnight of October) produced 16.0% higher grain yield compared to timely sowing (mid-November) in northern Indian Plains. However, no significant yield differences were observed between conventional tillage (CT) and conservation tillage (CST) practices. Among genotypes, the better yielders were PBW 723, BISA 927 and HD 2967. The interaction of sowing time and genotype had a significant (p < 0.05) effect on wheat yield. However, the interaction of genotype and tillage did not produce any significant response on wheat yield. The experiments conducted at farmer's fields also demonstrated similar performance of wheat under CT and CST systems but CST offered the savings of more than Rs. 3500 (US $ 47) along with 125kg ha- 1 lesser CO2 emissions over CT due to reduction in fuel consumption associated with tillage and seed bed operations. At farmers field also, early sown wheat yielded 5.5% higher over wheat sown in November. The results of present studies show that early sowing of high yielding wheat genotypes under CST practice enhanced the productivity and profitability of wheat under rice-wheat cropping system along with lesser noxious impact on the environment. Amidst climate vagary and its menace on the agriculture, the adoption of climate-resilient management practices such as advancing the sowing time and conservation tillage can improve the productivity of long duration wheat cultivars in sub-tropical humid conditions besides lesser deleterious consequences on the environment.

Reflection seismic-based imaging of meandering channels of Lower Indus Plain using wavelet transform-based density-porosity hydro-geophysical simulations: Implications on water exploration

Water-bearing meandering channel streams (MCS) are very attractive targets for the exploration of fresh drinking water for meeting the demands of human needs. There are various techniques that are used for the exploration and management of water-bearing reservoirs. Seismic reflection data (SRD) is an effective method used in groundwater exploration. SRD is the product of density and velocity information, which are hidden inside this data. The sub-surface layers of the earth’s crust have specific tuning frequency contents, which can be used to predict the exact density, velocity, thicknesses, and porosity of the water-bearing reservoirs. The clean, sandstone-filled, water-bearing channels have a better quality of water compared to the shale- and clay-filled zones. Therefore, the discrimination of this reservoir facies becomes difficult using the SRD. This study utilizes the seismic reflection method for the exploration of water-bearing zones at depths of 25 to 65 m for a confined aquifer inside the Miano area, Lower Indus Platform (LIP), Pakistan. The wavelet-transform-based density-porosity and velocity-porosity hydro-geophysical simulations (WDVHS) are used as a key exploration tools for the quantitative prediction of the water-bearing stratigraphic trap. The full spectrum (bandlimited) seismic amplitudes do not have the tuning frequency contents, which could be used for the quantitative prediction of the exact density and velocity of the channel stream. The WDVHS has predicted the quantitative attributes of this confined aquifer. The least angle of the sandstone lens’s layer implicates the equilibrium position of the hydraulic head. The water table was present at a depth of 8 m. The clean, water-bearing sandstones have the lowest densities of 1.2, 1.5, and 2 g/c.c. and a porosity of 20 to 30%. Shale-clay-filled impure sediments have a density of 2.3 g/cc and < 10% porosity. The total thickness of this confined aquifer was 29.8 m, which has the least velocity of 554, 1024, and 1494 m/s for clean water-bearing sandstones and 3372 m/s for impurities in shale or clay-filled sediments. This study can be used for drilling exploratory wells for water exploration inside the LIP and world-leading water zones.

Future Impact on Pakistan Economy in the 21st Century Shifting of Global Power

The Wakhan Corridor is surrounded by the concerned region of Mekandar. The access strip is located at the intersection of four countries, the mainland of Afghanistan, Tajikistan, China and Pakistan. The Wakhan Corridor has been the mainly vital intersection point of the Silk Road since its inception. This corridor has long been used by Europeans and Chinese as a trade path to reach the Indian plains and sea lines of communication in the Indian Ocean via the coasts of the Arabian Sea. At the joint of China, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan lies a small extend of land in Afghanistan's Badakhshan province known as the Wakhan Corridor. Being a passage of the old Silk Road, this corridor is of great historical value. It still has a lot of room for increase in terms of tourism and regional connectivity. Wakhan region is considered relatively peaceful as there is no law-and-order problem. Construction of the road through Wakhan will improve regional trade and business, especially for Pakistan, Central Asia and Afghanistan. It could provide the fastest trade route for China to access Afghanistan and Pakistan for access to Central Asia. In this context, the research explores the possibilities of revitalizing the Wakhan Corridor through the construction of road infrastructure. This paper highlights the economical importance of the Wakhan Corridor in the light of the emerging regional scenario. Both ISIS and the Pakistani Taliban are essential to disrupt the corridor and create security challenges for development. To benefit from future trade improvements along the Wakhan Corridor, the three countries (Pakistan, China and Tajikistan) should focus on the security and political situation.

Appraisal of the impact of Dominant 20%SG on rice planthoppers and their natural enemies under North Indian Plains

Appraisal of the impact of Dominant 20%SG on rice planthoppers and their natural enemies under North Indian Plains

Identification of soil type in Pakistan using remote sensing and machine learning.

Soil study plays a significant role in the cultivation of crops. To increase the productivity of any crop, one must know the soil type and properties of that soil. The conventional soil type identification, grid sampling and hydrometer method require expert intervention, more time and extensive laboratory experimentation. Digital soil mapping, while applying remote sensing, offers soil type information and has rapidity, low cost, and spatial resolution advantages. This study proposes a model to identify the soil type using remote sensing data. Spectral data of the Upper Indus Plain of Pakistan Pothwar region and Doabs were acquired using fifteen Landsat eight images dated between June 2020 to August 2020. Bare soil images were obtained to identify the soil type classes Silt Loam, Loam, Sandy Loam, Silty Clay Loam and Clay Loam. Spectral data of band values, reflectance band values, corrective reflectance band values and vegetation indices are practiced studying the reflectance factor of soil type. Regarding multi-class classification, Random Forest and Support Vector Machine are two popular techniques used in the research community. In the present work, we used these two techniques aided with Logistic Model Tree with 10-fold cross-validation. The classification with the best performance is achieved using the spectral data, with an overall accuracy of 86.61% and 84.41% for the Random Forest and Logistic Model Tree classification, respectively. These results may be applied for crop cultivation in specific areas and assist decision-makers in better agricultural planning.

Hydrogeochemical characterization of groundwater and their associated potential health risks.

The present study assessed the human health risk exposure from the consumption of poor quality groundwater in the Lucknow area, a part of Central Ganga alluvial plain in India. Around 27 (n = 27) groundwater samples were collected from the study area. The analytical results of the samples (n = 27) collected indicate silicate and carbonate weathering is the dominant process along with cation exchange, sulfide oxidation, and reverse ion exchange. The type of groundwater is Ca2-Na-HCO3- type having all cations and anions within permissible WHO limits except for iron (Fe2+) and nitrate (NO3-). The high concentrations of Fe2 and NO3- in samples indicate the possibility of a non-geogenic point source for the same in an urban-influenced environment. The ionic concentration of dissolved constituents is used in weighted overlay analysis to generate the water quality index (WQI). WQI indicates that most urban areas (~ 98.52%) have fallen in the good to excellent category except few situated in the highly populated parts of Lucknow. The ionic concentrations of Fe2+ and NO3- have been further used to estimate human health risk by integrating regional urban population density data in Lucknow. The risk map shows alarming risks in the west-central part, where nearly ~ 35% of the total area is at moderate to high health risk.

Improved Nutrient Management Practices for Enhancing Productivity and Profitability of Wheat under Mid-Indo-Gangetic Plains of India

Two-year field experiments were conducted to study the effect of different levels of inorganic fertilizers, farmyard manure (FYM), and bio-inoculants on wheat productivity and profitability. Results specified that judicious application of inorganic fertilizers, FYM, and bio-inoculants significantly increased the productivity and profitability of wheat. Data suggested that the aggregate levels of fertilizer up to 100% NPK ha−1 resulted in significant increases in all growth attributes, grain yield (+206%), straw yield (+177%), and harvest index (+7%) as compared to control. Meanwhile, plots with the application of 10 t ha−1 FYM significantly (p &lt; 0.05) increased grain yield (+26%) and straw yield (+22%) as compared to the control. Similarly, significant enhancement in grain and straw yields was observed with the application of PGPR + VAM over no-inoculation. Results showed that the significantly higher grain and straw yield attained by application of 75% NPK fertilizer + 10 t ha−1 FYM was at par with the application of 100% NPK fertilizer alone. Further, net returns (profitability) and B:C ratio (2.37) were significantly higher with fertilization with 75% NPK + 10 t ha−1 FYM along with PGPR + VAM as compared to 100% NPK alone. Overall, it can be concluded that the combination of 75% NPK and 10 t ha−1 FYM along with PGPR + VAM represented the optimum for net return and B:C ratio and reduced (25%) dose of NPK as compared to the rest of the treatment combinations.

Hydrochemical appraisal of fluoride contamination in groundwater and human health risk assessment at Isa Khel, Punjab, Pakistan

Fluoride contamination in the groundwater of Pakistan is widespread with serious potential health consequences. We determine the groundwater of Isa Khel Tehsil upper Indus plain for drinking purposes and fluoride contamination by collecting 236 water samples from the water supply schemes supplied with groundwater. Results show that the majority of the parameters exceed the standard concentration of potable water. The concentration of fluoride ranges from 0.02 to 5.35 mg/L with an average of 1.8 mg/L, and about 58.5% of the collected samples have higher fluoride concentration than the allowed limit for drinking purposes. Fluoride pollution index results show that about 48.73% of samples have a high level of risk, 41.95% samples of the study area have medium level and only 9.32% of the water samples show low level of fluoride contamination. The health risk assessment due to fluoride contamination was computed based on chronic daily intake (CDI) and hazard quotient (HQ). For adult’s variation in CDI and HQ ranges from 0.001–0.15 mg/kg/day and 0.001–2.55 respectively whereas in children it ranges from 0.001–0.29 mg/kg/day and 0.02–4.84. Health risk assessment parameters indicate that in the case of adults, about 40.25% of samples exceeded the maximum allowed value of hazard quotient i.e., HQ > 1, while for children, about 66.95% of samples have HQ > 1, which means that children are at higher risk than adults because of higher vulnerability to fluoride contamination in drinking water. Thus, there is a need for effective groundwater monitoring and management in the study region to safeguard residents from various illnesses associated with drinking water with varying fluoride concentrations. • Worldwide in groundwater, fluoride contamination is becoming a challenge. • Higher fluoride level in drinking water cases dental and skeletal fluorosis at alarming rate. • Evaluation of two hundred and thirty-six water samples indicate more than 50 percent samples not fit for drinking.

Insight into the evolutionary history ofIndoplanorbis exustus(Bulinidae: Gastropoda) at the scale of population and species

AbstractThe history of a lineage is intertwined with the history of the landscape it inhabits. Here we showcase how the geo-tectonic and climatic evolution of South Asia and surrounding landmasses have shaped the biogeographical history of Indoplanorbis exustus, a tropical Asian, freshwater snail. We amplified partial COI gene fragments from all over India and combined this with a larger dataset from South and Southeast Asia to carry out phylogenetic reconstruction, species delimitation analysis and population genetic analyses. Two nuclear genes were also amplified from a few individuals per putative species to carry out divergence dating and ancestral area reconstruction analyses. The results suggest that I. exustus dispersed out of Africa into India during the Eocene. Furthermore, molecular data suggest I. exustus is a species complex consisting of multiple putative species. Primary diversification took place in the Northern Indian plains or in Northeast India. The speciation events appear to be primarily allopatric caused by a series of aridification events starting from the late Miocene to early Pleistocene. None of the species appears to have any underlying genetic structure suggestive of high vagility. All the species underwent population fluctuations during the Pleistocene, probably driven by the Quaternary climatic fluctuations.

Weed management in direct-seeded rice under a long-term conservation agriculture-based rice rice (Oriza sativa)-wheat (Triticum aestivum) system

Weeds that occur in repeated flushes pose major challenges to direct-seeded rice (DSR). Zero till (ZT) DSRwith crop residue influences weed interference considerably and can be substitutive to resource-intensive puddledtransplanted rice (PTR). Field experiments were conducted at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute during2018–19 involving conservation agriculture (CA)-based DSRs and weed control/herbicides treatments to appraiseweed interference and productivity under an eight-year old CA-based rice-wheat system (RWS). All DSRs encountered more weeds than PTR. A double ZT system without residue [~ZTDSR-ZT wheat (ZTW); C1] had highest density and dry weight of grassy weeds, but a triple ZT system without residue [~ZTDSR-ZTW-ZT mungbean (ZTMB);C4] had highest density and dry weight of broad-leaved and sedge weeds. However, a triple ZT system with threecrops residue [~ZTDSR + mungbean residue-ZTW + rice residue-ZTMB + wheat residue; C5)] could reduce weedinterference significantly and led to 9.3% and 21.8% higher rice yield than C1 and C4, respectively. The applicationof pyrazosulfuron-ethyl 0.025 kg/ha pre-emergence followed by (fb) cyhalofop-butyl 0.100 kg/ha at 20 days aftersowing (DAS), fb bispyribac-Na 0.025 kg/ha at 25 DAS (W4) led to significant reduction in grassy, broad-leaved andsedge weeds densities by 92.5, 96.6 and 67.7%, respectively. The triple ZT system with rice, wheat and mungbeanresidues (C5) combined with application of pyrazosulfuron-ethyl fb cyhalofop-butyl fb bispyribac-Na (W4) gavealmost similar rice yield with PTR (C6). This may be recommended for adoption in Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) ofIndia and in similar agro-ecologies of the tropics/sub-tropics.

India-Bhutan Relations: A Small State’s Quest for Freedom

Bhutan is located on the eastern ridges of the Himalayas between the Assam-Bengal Plain of India to the south and the Plateau of Tibet of southwestern China to the north. In British India the colonial administration established a classical hegemonic relationship with the remote kingdom. In the Treaty of Punakha (1910) the sovereignty of the Bhutanese Royal government was recognized in exchange for submitting control of foreign relations to the British. In independent India, the Himalayan Kingdoms were sandwiched between India and China, facing an uncertain future about their political sovereignty. India concluded a new Treaty with Bhutan (the India-Bhutan Treaty of Peace and Friendship) in 1949, which was designed to remain in force “in perpetuity,” consolidating the essence of the British hegemonic policy of controlling smaller neighbors, with India being the new imperial power. Bhutan became a member state of the UN in 1971 after India finally agreed to sponsor its application, but the small state has limited authority to conduct foreign relations without prior consent from India, and it does not even enjoy formal diplomatic relationship with any of the five permanent members in the United Nations. Bhutan’s quest to wield control over its own affairs free of the influence of India remains unfulfilled.

A COMPREHENSIVE WATER QUALITY REVIEW OF RIVER YAMUNA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO WATER QUALITY INDEX IN THE HIMALAYAN REGION OF INDIA

India with 4% of fresh water resources is facing a dual challenge of water scarcity and pollution. Several rivers in India originate from Himalayan systems and forms the basis of Indias Economy. River contamination and diminishing water quality is reducing populations accessibility to clean and safe drinking Water. As one of the significant perennial tributaries of The Ganga Water systems, River Yamuna passes through the heartlands of thegreat North India Plains sustaining cities, feeding millions. Since Yamuna passes through major urban settlement it is heavily polluted with untreated industrial waste, sewage, domestic waste making its way into the river. The study presents a comprehensive reviewof the water quality assessmentsof theriver Yamuna with special reference to Water Quality Index based on severalhydrological parameters. Based on the levels of contamination the whole stretch of Yamuna from its source (at Uttarakhand) till its confluence with Ganga (at Allahabad) has been divided into 5 segments. While all the lower stretches depict high to very high pollution levels, the upper segment of the river in the Himalayas show good water quality. Water quality parameters of river Yamuna depict that BOD, DO and COD levels are not in range of permissible limits in Delhi segment but it falls under permissible limits range in Himalayan segment. Other than these parameters, ammonia, TKN and other organic and inorganic matters fall under the desired standards in Himalayan region of Yamuna.

Tropospheric ozone effect on yield, quality and antioxidant defence of six cultivars of jute with ethylene diurea in the lower Gangetic Plains of India

Tropospheric ozone effect on yield, quality and antioxidant defence of six cultivars of jute with ethylene diurea in the lower Gangetic Plains of India

Economic losses in dairy farms due to heat stress in sub-tropics: evidence from North Indian Plains.

The present study assesses the sensitivity of dairy animals to thermal stress, and projects the economic losses due to heat stress in the Trans and Upper Gangetic plains region of India with Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5 climate scenario for the time slice 2010-2039 and two subperiods, 2020-2029 and 2030-2039. The projections were carried out for two different scenarios of population and productivity growth of dairy animals, Business-as-Usual (BAU) and Alternate, whereby land, feed and fodder constraints were applied. The potential annual loss in milk production due to heat stress in the region was estimated to be around 361 and 377 thousand tons for the time slice 2010-2039 under BAU and Alternate scenario, respectively. In economic terms these losses, at current prices, would be equivalent to INR 11.93 billion and INR 12.44 billion, respectively. This gives an indication of the level of financial investment that can be made in adaptation measures to arrest the loss due to climate change.

Chemical investigation, quality assessment, and antimicrobial activity of davana (Artemisia pallens Wall. ex DC) essential oil collected from different locations in India

ABSTRACT Artemisia pallens Wall. ex DC, commonly known as davana, is cultivated in India for extraction of its essential oil (DO). In this study, DO collected from thirteen locations (DO1-DO13) and those extracted from six different phenophases and different plant parts were investigated using GC-FID and GC-MS. Altogether, 84 constituents were identified, forming 81.0–96.2% of the total oil composition. Major components of the oils were cis-davanone (17.4–65.1%), bicyclogermacrene (4.0–22.0%), cis-methyl jasmonate (0.4–8.5%), β-eudesmol (0.3–6.6%), davana ether isomer (0.5–6.1%), trans-ethyl cinnamate (1.4–6.1%), and germacrene D (0.1–4.7%). Among all tested oils, the DO10, having low cis-davanone content (27.5%), was found more potent against test microorganisms. The oils collected from different locations showed variations in their physical properties, chemical composition, and antimicrobial activity. Based on the yield and cis-davanone content, the flower bud and full-flowering stages could be suitable for harvesting good quality oil in north Indian plains.