Western Madhya Pradesh Research Articles

Integrated Python and GIS approach for Geomorphometric investigation of Man River Basin, Western Madhya Pradesh, India

The Narmada Valley and adjoining region are considered to be tectonically active. The Dhar Lineament is a major zone of fracture North of Narmada River running nearly parallel to Narmada Valley. The Man River Basin spreads across the Dhar Lineament and extends up to the Narmada Lineament. The present study attempts to understand the characteristics and development of the valley of Man River. The high-resolution satellite images, GIS software, and Python program have been used for this study. The nature and characteristics of Man River Valley are quite different on either side of the Dhar Lineament. For micro-level analysis the Man Basin has been divided into 37 subbasins and their geomorphometric indices have been computed and correlated. The results indicate that in the development of Man Basin the Dhar lineament has played a crucial role. The subparallel, angular, tight meanders, and contorted streams are present in drainage. The bifurcation ratio ranges between 2 and 9, the average length of higher-order is less than the average length of lower-order for 13 subbasins, and elongated sub-basins are situated in low-lying gentle plane areas. The Drainage characteristics are largely controlled by various sets of fractures (NE-SW, NW-SE, E-W, and N-S). The anomalous behavior of parameters indicates the tectonic influence in the Man Basin development.

Forms and Distribution of Potassium and Their Relationships to Different Characteristics of the Soil in the Soils of Pipari Village, District Khargone of Western Madhya Pradesh, India

Forms and distribution of potassium were examined in 150 soil samples taken from Pipari village, Khalgone (MP) district. Surface (0-15 cm) soil samples were collected from 150 parcels of land in Pipari village. The concentration range of water soluble potassium, exchangeable potassium, available potassium, non-exchangeable potassium, lattice potassium and total potassium in soil is 3.82-35.8, 95.1-371.92, 108.35-379.20, 164.0-388.8, 8599.8-15865.32, 9066.2-16249.12 mg kg -1. For all potassium forms, EC showed negative correlation. The pH showed highly negative correlation with water soluble potassium (r= -0.111**), exchangeable potassium (r= -0.45**), available potassium (r= -0.060**) and positive correlation with lattice potassium (r= 0.034*) and total potassium (r= 0.033*). Organic carbon was positively correlated with all potassium forms except water-soluble and non-exchangeable potassium (r = -0.034 *). CaCO3 has a positive correlation with water soluble potassium (r = 0.046**), lattice potassium (r = 0.090**) and total potassium (r = 0.084**) and total potassium (r= 0.084**) and highly negative correlation with exchangeable potassium (r= -0.147**), available potassium (r= -0.130**) and non-exchangeable potassium (r= -0.060**). Available nitrogen showed highly positive correlation with lattice potassium (r= 0.063**) and total potassium (r=0.062**). Available phosphorus showed negative correlation with exchangeable potassium (r= -0.046**) and available potassium (r= -0.046**) and positive correlation with lattice potassium (r= 0.090**) and total potassium (r= 0.087**). Highly positive correlation noticed between different forms of potassium except lattice potassium (r= - 0.113**) and total potassium (r= - 0.095**).

A New Spotted Species of the Cyrtodactylus (Geckoella) collegalensis (Beddome, 1870) (Reptilia: Squamata) Complex from Coastal Kerala, Southwestern India

We describe a new spotted species of ground-dwelling gecko of the genus Cyrtodactylus (Geckoella) from coastal Kerala, southwestern India, by using an integrative taxonomic approach. The new species is a member of the C. collegalensis species complex, with 10.0–13.5% uncorrected mitochondrial sequence divergence from the other six members of the C. collegalensis complex. The new species is also recognized in tree-based delimitation methods and can be morphologically diagnosed by a spotted dorsal pattern of four to six pairs of spots (occasionally fused into figure 8–shaped markings) from the banded species C. speciosus, C. rishivalleyensis, and C. yakhuna and from the spotted C. collegalensis, C. srilekhae, and C. varadgirii by the presence of a few scattered enlarged dorsal scales. This is the only Indian member of the C. collegalensis complex with a relatively broad distribution at low elevations, other than C. varadgirii from western India (distributed in Maharashtra, southern Gujarat, and western Madhya Pradesh). The sister species to the new species is the Sri Lankan C. yakhuna, which is a banded form from low elevations. The new species is the second gecko to have been described from Chengodumala and endemic to northern and central Kerala, highlighting the importance of this area, which is under increasing anthropogenic pressure. We also provide notes on the dorsal pholidosis of C. rishivalleyensis, which was overlooked in its original description.

Impact of Tillage on Growth, Productivity and Economics of Soybean Grown in Vertisols of Western Madhya Pradesh, India

The investigation entitled, “Impact of Tillage on Growth, Productivity and Economics of Soybean Grown in Vertisols of Western Madhya Pradesh, India’’ was conducted during the kharif season of the year 2019-20 in the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, R.V.S.K.V.V., College of Agriculture, Indore. The objective of the experiment was to study the effect of tillage practices on the growth and productivity of soybean and to evaluate the effect of tillage on the economics and energy use efficiency of soybean. The experiment conducted in randomized block design and replicated five times. There were four treatments T1-Sub Soiling (SS) + Sowing by precision seed drill, T2- Tillage by Cultivator twice (CT), T3- Deep Tillage by M.B. plough (DT) and T4- Reduced Tillage + Crop Residues (RT+CR 30 % of previous crop). The results indicated that T1-Sub Soiling (SS) treatment was recorded maximum value of growth parameters, yield attributes ,seed yield, test weight, seed weight plant-1, Nodules Weight per plant, net returns and B:C which was statistically at par with treatment T2 Cultivator twice (CT). The overall conclusion drawn from the study is that due to continuous mechanization and use of heavy machinery a compact layer was observed in Vertisols at 20-30 cm soil depth which restricts root growth, reduces infiltration rate, thereby, causes water logging during rainy season. The poor soil aeration results in reduction in soybean productivity in Madhya Pradesh.

Medicinal Plants Used for the Treatment of Various Skin Diseases by Tribal of Dhar District and Adjacent Regions of Western Madhya Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, India

Present study deals with the medicinal plants used for skin diseases by tribals of Dhar district and adjacent regions of Western Madhya Pradesh. Dhar district is situated in the western part of Madhya Pradesh and dominant tribes of Dhar and adjacent regions are Bhil, Bhilala,,Barela and Pateliya .Present study accounts a total of 45 medicinal plants which are used for the treatment of skin diseases .These 45 plant species are distributed in 30 families and 44 genera .There are 18 trees,5 shrubs, 8 climbers and 14 herbaceous plant species which are used for treating various skin diseases.by tribal of study area. Some plants used for skin diseases in the study area is depleting in alarming rate and need special attention for their conservation.

Effect of phytase supplementation on production performance and economics of Kadaknath chickens

Kadaknath is an important indigenous breed of poultry inhabitating vast areas of Western Madhya Pradesh mainly the Jhabua and Dhar districts. Since a long time, Kadaknath breed of poultry was reared by tribes and therefore through many generations of selection and fixation of genes some of the important breed characteristics had been established. The specialty of the breed is that the flesh and internal organs of this chicken are black in colour. It is also to be noted that it is the only black meat chicken breed of India. The meat and eggs are also reckoned to be a rich source of protein. These are slow growers, so for increasing the performance, many enzymes are used specially, phytase. In the present study, 120 chicks were divided into three groups and given Phytase @ 500 and 1000 IU/kg of feed with T0 group kept as control. The results for the growth performance, FCR and carcass characteristics were very encouraging and also the profitable in terms of economics.

Speculative crops: Gambling on the onion in rural India

This paper examines the political ecology of onions in India, one of the largest producer countries in the world. Although the cost of producing onions is significant, an increasing number of farmers are drawn to its cultivation. Onion prices are, however, highly volatile, fluctuating wildly within the span of a few days, making it a notorious gamble on the market. As a kitchen staple and the second highest consumed vegetable in India, it is also a politically significant crop – high retail rates are held responsible for the fall of governments, and are met with price controls, storage limits, and export restrictions. Yet, in the expectation of spectacular gains, farmers try their luck with its cultivation, investing in inputs, storing and sorting, hoping and waiting for the perfect time to sell. Building on ethnographic fieldwork in the Malwa region of western Madhya Pradesh, I consider how the specific socio-ecological qualities of onion cultivation, harvesting and storage – from high yields to limited storability and the seasonality of cultivation – shape its speculative possibilities. This research finds that it is largely privileged classes and castes of farmers who have access to the ‘means of speculation’ and thereby, to spectacular profits from onion cultivation, leading to the worsening of social inequalities among farmers of this crop. Broadly, this article theorizes the onion as a ‘speculative crop’, one that symbolizes the precarity and possibilities of Indian agriculture in an age of intensive cash-cropping and climate change.

Identity Formation and Status in a Tribe: Case of the Bhilalas of Western Madhya Pradesh

The Bhil, Bhilala, Barela and Patelia form the second largest tribal group in India after the Gonds, which is consisted of 45 sub-groups, according to the 2011 Census (Census of India 2011). The Bhil tribe has itself various sub-groups besides these three other tribal groups which have been clubbed with the Bhil tribe in Madhya Pradesh. The Bhil and the related tribes have their major concentration in the adjoining states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra which form the Malwa region. Malwa covers the whole of Bhil country, excepting some adjoining portions of Gujarat, which has a considerably large population of Bhil and related tribes. The population of the Bhil, Bhilala, Barela and Patelia in Madhya Pradesh is 59,93,921. The districts which were having more than one lakh Bhil population are Dhar (1200502), Barwani (952940), Jhabua (889582), West Nimar (713640), Alirajpur (647653), Ratlam (410992), East Nimar (230857), Indore (195663), Burhanpur (142179), Dewas (136289), and Guna (116239). The focus of the study is on the Bhilala tribe who inhabit largely in the districts of Dhar and Barwani. Although, they have been clubbed with the Bhil tribe, they have their own identity and there is a process of Rajputization among them. The Bhilala assume superiority than other groups in the local milieu of the tribes living there and claim to be the Rajputs. Hence, understanding of this tribal group can be made in the local perspective and their historical background in the present day situation. It is one of the progressive tribes of India.

Innovative Marketing Strategies for Small and Medium Enterprises of Western Madhya Pradesh (India): An Analytical Study

The micro, small and medium enterprises are an essential part of the Indian industrial sector. It plays a decisive role in growth and development of Indian economy. The review of literature on various aspects of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) showed that the SMEs, both in the country and other parts of the world, still rely on conventional marketing practices and, more or less, face the same types of challenges. Therefore, the present study is undertaken to examine the marketing strategies of SMEs in western Madhya Pradesh, India, and to suggest some innovative marketing practices for them to prosper. The sample consists of 439 SMEs drawn on a random basis from Indore and Dhar districts of Madhya Pradesh. The primary data are collected through a self-designed instrument with 40 items/statements, developed thorough a review of literature on the topic and personal interviews of managers of SMEs. The data are analysed using statistical tools like factor analysis and chi-square test applied with the help of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 20 Software. The study findings reveal that SME managers still rely on age-old practices of marketing. The article recommends some innovative marketing practices for SMEs.

Prevalence of 4Ds among Population of below 18 years Screened under RBSK in Districts of Western Madhya Pradesh

Prevalence of 4Ds among Population of below 18 years Screened under RBSK in Districts of Western Madhya Pradesh

Ethnopharmacological survey of plants used by the Bhil and Bhilala ethnic community in dermatological disorders in Western Madhya Pradesh, India

Ethnopharmacological relevanceEthnobotanical surveys are a key means of preserving indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants and their application within traditional medical systems. The present survey was undertaken within the Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh, India, to collect information from the Bhil and Bhilala tribes on the use of medicinal plants in the treatment of dermatological diseases. Material and methodsThe ethnobotanical data was collected from local traditional healers in 39 villages within the Jhabua district of western Madhya Pradesh, using standard ethnobotanical methods. The Use Value (UV), Fidelity Level (FL) and Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) were calculated in order to analyse the data collected and results were compared to prior ethnobotanical surveys relating to dermatological conditions conducted within India. ResultsA total of 116 plant species of 103 genera, belonging to 58 families were identified as used in the treatment of a total of 21 different dermatological disorders. UV ranged from Punica granatum, with the highest value of 2.41 to Rumex dentatus, with the lowest UV of 0.11. The highest FL of 100% was found for 17 plant species, and the ICF was found to range from 0.20 (leucoderma) to 1 (mouth ulcers). ConclusionsThe survey was able to identify and record the broad range of medicinal plants and practices used by the Bhil and Bhilala people in their treatment of dermatological conditions. The data collected is valuable, not only as part of the process of documenting and preserving a traditional knowledge and culture in danger of being lost, but also in its provision of a broad selection of medicinal plants that could be subjected to further pharmacological and clinical investigation for their potential role in the treatment of dermatological conditions.

Status of ethnobotanical invasive plants in western Madhya Pradesh, India

Tribal community of Jhabua district uses the forest resources especially plants primarily for curing various ailments. Ethnobotanical practice has prevailed in this area since the ancient time and the invasive plants are not the exception. Thus, we documented the medicinal uses of the invasive plants. Exhaustive field surveys were conducted during 2008–2013 for the collection of the ethnobotanical data and voucher specimen. Information regarding ethnobotanical uses of plants was collected from the tribals using a semi-structured questionnaire. Several extensive reviews which studied invasive plant species are available. From this survey, a total of 102 plant species belonging to 38 families were reported for curing 37 types of ailments. Asteraceae was the dominant family and in lifeform category herbs stand dominant. Leaf is the most frequently used plant part, whereas decoction is the highly preferred preparatory method for medicine preparation in the study area. 56% of the invasive plants showed a use value of more than 0.50. This indicates the high acceptance of these plants in the primary health care. We also discussed the degree of invasiveness and habitat preference of these species. The use of invasive alien plant species relieves the pressure on the native plant species that leads to the native plant diversity conservation. Finding of this study can be used as an ethnopharmacological basis for selecting plants for future phytochemical pharmacological studies.

Assessment of Prevalence of Diabetic Retinopathy in Western Madhya Pradesh

Assessment of Prevalence of Diabetic Retinopathy in Western Madhya Pradesh

Assessment of Hailstorm Damage in Wheat Crop Using Remote Sensing

Heavy rainfall and hailstorm events occurred in major wheat-growing areas of India during February and March 2015 causing large-scale damages to the crop. An attempt was made to assess the impact of hailstorms in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh (UP), Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh (MP) using remote sensing data. Multi-year remote sensing data from Resourcesat 2 AWiFS was used for the purpose. Wheat crop map, generated by the operational FASAL project, was used in the study. Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) deviation images were generated from the NDVI images of a similar period in 2014 and 2015. This was combined with the gridded data of cumulative rainfall during the period. The logical modelling approach was used for damage classification into normal, mild, moderate and severe. It was found that the northern and southern districts in Haryana were severely affected due to rainfall/ hailstorm. Eastern Rajasthan and western MP were also highly affected. Western UP was mildly affected. Crop cutting experiments (CCE) were carried out in two districts of MP. The CCE data showed that the affected fields had 7% lower yield than the unaffected fields. Empirical yield model was developed between wheat yield and NDVI using CCE data. This model was used to compute the loss in state-level wheat production. This showed that there was a reduction of 8.4% in national wheat production. The production loss estimated through this method matched with the Government estimates.

“Real, practical emancipation”?

Th is article explores the articulations of citizenship in subaltern politics in contemporary India. Departing from Karl Marx’s acknowledgment that, despite its limitations, political orders founded on the modern democratic conception of citizenship had propelled “real, practical emancipation,” I argue that citizenship has to be understood as simultaneously enabling and constraining radical political projects and popular social movements. I flesh out this argument through a detailed analysis of Adivasi mobilization in western Madhya Pradesh, India. My analysis shows how the Adivasi Mukti Sangathan, a local social movement in the region, democratized local state-society relations by appropriating basic democratic idioms and turning these against local state personnel and the violent extortion they engaged in. Drawing on James Holston’s work on “insurgent citizenship,” I argue that claims making around such democratic idioms inflected citizenship with new and potentially emancipatory meanings centered on local sovereignty and self-rule. I then detail how this mobilization provoked a substantial coercive backlash from the state and discuss the lessons that can be gleaned from this trajectory in terms of the possibilities and limitations that citizenship offers to progressive popular politics in India today.

Mid-Holocene pollen records from southwestern Madhya Pradesh, central India, and their palaeoclimatic significance

ABSTRACTA new pollen record from south western Madhya Pradesh, central India provides a palaeoenvironmental record for the core monsoon zone (CMZ) of India. The 2m deep lacustrine sediment profile demonstrates that between ∼5679 and ∼4939 cal yr BP, open vegetation occurred in the region, indicative of a dry climate with reduced monsoonal precipitation. This was replaced by a mixed tropical deciduous forest under a warm and humid climate with increased monsoonal precipitation between ∼4939 to ∼3762 cal yr BP. From ∼3762 cal yr BP to the present day, a dense mixed tropical deciduous forest has existed under a warm and relatively more humid climate indicating a further increase in monsoonal precipitation. Cereal-based agricultural practice is evident during the most recent two phases.

Integrated water security plan for water scarcity villages in central India

The western Madhya Pradesh in India has been facing severe problem of drinking water scarcity during summer. The problem is compounded by local geological setup and moderate rainfall and excessive irrigation over draft. Taking cue from a holistic approach, a water security plan is prepared on watershed basis for water scarcity villages in Bamori block of Guna district in Madhya Pradesh which builds for sustainability of water source and utilization to cater the water needs at village level. The present investigations entail that GW withdrawal and recharge value signifying that withdrawal substantially exceeds the recharge, leading to the depletion of groundwater level. About 99.48 % groundwater is used for irrigation and rest for domestic uses. GW stage development (>100 %) indicates that the scope of GW development is already exhausted and comes under over-exploited/critical category. Physicochemical groundwater quality parameters are within the permissible limits. Thematic information was derived from satellite data which serve as a basis of generated composite thematic layer and useful for preparation of water security plan and GW augmentation. The study reveals that systematic scientific investigations help in development of GW resources which can cater the needs of population residing in the area. It requires development of institutional capabilities at the village level for preparing holistic plans for water security in water scarcity villages.

Inventory of ethnobotanicals and other systematic procedures for regional conservation of medicinal and sacred plants

The plant diversity of western Madhya Pradesh is reducing at the fast rate due to anthropogenic disturbances and environmental degradation. Disturbance is a major factor responsible for the fragmentation of forest vegetation; as a result, there is a preponderance of small patches, and some of them are still preserved as sacred groves because of strong religious beliefs held by the indigenous people of Jhabua district of western Madhya Pradesh. Dungari mata sacred grove is situated near Katthiwada village in Jhabua district of western Madhya Pradesh that considered being residence of local deities. The Bhil and Bhilala are the most dominant tribe of the study area and depend upon the forest resources for their livelihood. About 339 species, 286 genera and 82 families were found in the grove. Fabaceae (38 species), Poaceae (33 species) and Asteraceae (20 species) were dominant families, and the Ipomoea was the largest genus, with five species. About 69 tree species, 25 shrubs, 157 herbs, 40 grasses, 3 epiphytes and 45 climbers and lianas were found in the groves. Some threatened plant species are growing over here that are not found elsewhere, and they comes under various threat categories. About threatened taxa, 81 species were recorded from the grove that comes under various threat categories. The present status of the grove is of concern, as it is gradually declining under constant anthropogenic pressure. Their better management and protection are important for the conservation of plant diversity in the region and also for the benefit of indigenous tribes of the state.

Monsoonal Droughts In India – A Recent Assessment

AbstractDrought frequencies during the years 1901–2010 were investigated over three spatial units – All India, 5 Homogeneous Regions (HR) and 36 Meteorological subdivisions (MSs). The All-India rainfall trend is in fact indicative of no trend, while the Northeast HR (NER) shows a significant decrease. Furthermore, a significant decrease in rainfallis to be observed over Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and the Southern Peninsular region, and a significant increase over West Bengal, Punjab, Haryana, Coastal Karnataka, North Interior Karnataka and Rayalaseema.There have been 21 All-India drought years during the last century, of which 13 were linked to El Niño. When compared with HRs, the WCR is highly prone to El Niño while the NER is not affected by this global tele-connection. Western Uttar Pradesh, Eastern Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Vidharbha and Telangana shared 11–10 drought occasions with El Niño.Maximum frequencies of droughts (21) were reported for East Madhya Pradesh within the WCR and Orissa within the Central Northeast Region (CNER), while Andaman, Nicobar and Rayalaseema experienced minimum drought episodes (12) over the last century.Sixty percent of the MSs in the West Central Region (WCR) and the Northwest Region (NWR) were coherent with All-India droughts. During the years 1918, 1972 and 2002, the majority of HRs (except NER) witnessed normal or below-normal rainfall. Western Madhya Pradesh within the WCR saw maximum drought events (13). The highest degree of simultaneous occurrence of drought years between the MSs and all-India concern Eastern Rajasthan, Western Madhya Pradesh, East and West Uttar Pradesh. The study also found that the MSs in HRs highly affected are East Rajasthan (NWR), West Madhya Pradesh (WCR), West and East Uttar Pradesh (CNER), NER and Coastal Karnataka (Peninsular Region). Western Uttar Pradesh, Eastern Rajasthan, Vidarbha and Telangana had 10–11 occasions when El Niño and Drought years occurred.

The Tribal Economy in Western Madhya Pradesh: Environmental Perspectives and Changes in Livelihood Patterns

Economy is the base of all activities in human life. It provides food which is the foremost important need of any living organism on earth. Food and related activities to acquire food vary from region to region and community to community. Hence, tribals form the hunters, gatherers, primitive agriculturists and so many other categories on the basis of their economy. Forests have remained the usual abode of the tribals in most parts of the world, particularly in India. Hilly tracts with the forest covers have become permanent shelter grounds for them due to obvious and non-apparent politico-economic reasons. Forest provides a suitable hunting ground and definitely a gatherers’ paradise for most of the hunting and food-gathering tribes of India. It is the call of the time to have sensible exploitation of the forest resources along with substantial forestation in the same area for keeping the balance of means and consumption in the forest. About a couple of decades ago the population was less and the forests were plenteous in quantity and variety both. Now, the situation is almost reverse. Forest reserves have gone down, while the population has increasingly gone up. The tribals are still the greatest friends of the forests and coexistence of both is essential. The Bhilala and the Patelia of some areas of Western Madhya Pradesh are deemed to be the good cultivators in the region due to their hard work, adoption of new agricultural techniques and use of fertilisers.