Indian Journal of Plant and Soil

The application of bio-char (charcoal or biomassderived black carbon (C)) to soil is proposed as a novel approach to establish a signicant, long-term, sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide in terrestrial ecosystems. Apart from positive effects in both reducing emissions and increasing the sequestration of greenhouse gases, the production of biochar and its application to soil will deliver immediate benets through improved soil fertility and increased crop production. Biochar has many important properties: high surface area with many functional groups, high nutrient content, and slow-release fertilizer. We discuss the influence of pyrolysis temperature, feedstock, pH, effect on different soil types.

Keyword: Bio-char; Ecosystems; Greenhouse gases; Fertilizer.
 

Contamination of soil environment by heavy metals is becoming a widespread across the globe. The rapid industrialization and poor management of industrial effluent is creating a more chance of heavy metal pollution. Even at their exposure at minute level, heavy metals can have carcinogenic effect on human, animals and negative effect on soil microorganisms & crop plants. Excessive concentration of heavy metals viz., Cr, Cd, As, Ni, Se and Pb have been found in soils of agricultural land nearby cities, mines and industrial areas around the world. Although geogenic source of pollution has been observed for some trace elements in different parts of the world including India, the secondary sources of anthropogenic pollution are more dominant, localized and causing higher magnitude soil pollution. Use of contaminated water for agricultural purpose has affected the soil health and reduced the crop productivity in the long run. Remediation of heavy metal contaminated soil is a necessity in order to have a safe and healthy environment, which will sustain our life on the beautiful earth planet. This paper describes the heavy meal sources, type and status in India; remediation techniques and safety measures for safe use of industrial contaminated water.

Keyword: Heavy metals; Remediation; Soil microorganisms,
Wastewater.
 

A detailed statistical analysis of annual daily maximum rainfall for Ahmednagar tahsil was carried out using 33 years (1982–2012) daily rainfall data, collected from State Data Storage Centre, Hydrology Project (Surface Water) Jal Vidnyan Bhavan, Nashik. For forecasting the annual rainfall Log Pearson typeIII, Log-normal and Gumbel probability distribution functions were fitted. Calculated values were compared with tabular values at 5 percent level of significance. As the variation between actual rainfall values and predicted rainfall values is less in Log Pearson Type III distribution as compared to Log Nornmal and Gumbel distribution, the Log Pearson Type III distribution found the best suitable for probability analysis of annual daily maximum rainfall. Keyword: Gumbel probability distribution; Log Pearson Type III distribution; Rainfall; Hydrology.
 

A field experiment was conducted at Forest College and Research Institute, Mettupalayam, Tamil Nadu, India to study the growth performance of gum yielding tree species with regional importance namely Butea monosperma (Bengal Kino), Acacia nilotica (Gum arabic), Acrocarpus fraxinifolius (Cedar gum), Pterocarpus marsupium (Kino gum), Azadirachta indica (Neem gum), Acacia senegal (Senegal gum), Anogeissus pendula (Indian gum) and Lannea coromandelica (Jhingan gum). The biometric attributes viz., height, basal diameter and diameter at breast height (DBH) were studied during initial, 3 MAP, 6 MAP and 9 MAP. Among the eight gum yielding trees, Acacia nilotica (Gum arabic) exhibited a maximum height of 7.01 m, basal diameter of 14.68 cm and DBH of 9.78 cm during 9 months after planting followed by Lannea coromandelica (Height of 6.16 m, basal diameter of 14.14 cm and DBH of 8.81 cm) and minimum in Anogeissus pendula (Height of 2.96 m, basal diameter of 3.75 cm and DBH of 2.37 cm). The drip technology boosted the gum productivity and overall production of tree crops in addition to betterment of soil and tree health especially in problem soils. Acacia nilotica and Lannea coromandelica were responded well to the drip irrigation system and it also plays a major in water as well as labour management.

Keyword: Acacia nilotica, Biometric attributes, Drip irrigation, Farm plantation, Gum yielding trees.

An experiment was conducted to study the seed coat to kernel ratio and Tamarind Kernel Powder (TKP) outturn in different agro-climatic zones viz., Northwestern zone, Cauvery-delta zone, Southern zone, Western zone and North-eastern zone of Tamil Nadu, India. Among the five agro-climatic zones, the kernel (Endosperm) content was maximum (82.48%) in Northwestern zone and minimum (69.94%) in Cauvery-delta zone and vice versa in seed coat content. The kernel was pulverised and it was subjected for tamarind kernel powder outturn (TKP). The tamarind kernel powder (TKP) outturn was exhibited highest in Northwestern zone (80.42%) and lowest in Cauvery-delta zone (62.68%). On concluding the study, the Northwestern zone bestow maximum in kernel content in seed and tamarind kernel powder outturn, so hence it can be recommended for tamarind kernel powder yield in seed raised plantation.

Keyword: Agro-climatic zones Kernel; Seed coat; Tamarind kernel powder; Tamarind Seed.
 

A study was conducted to identify the volume of the Ailanthus excelsa plantation in the Cauvery delta zone and constructing the yield model for easy prediction of the yield, which helps farmers in knowing the value of trees. The study was carried out in Cauvery delta zone of Tamil Nadu by studying the biometric attributes namely tree height, bole height, diameter at breast height (DBH) for estimating the volume and to construct the yield model for Ailanthus excelsa in 5 age classes (Age class of 0–1 years, age class of 1–2 years, age class of 2–3 years, age class of 5–6 years and age class of 8–9 years). The volume of 0.169 m3 was attained in the age class of 8–9 years in Ailanthus excelsa plantation. Yield model developed by using multiple linear regression for the Ailanthus excelsa plantations of Cauvery delta zone was Y = (–0.062) + (0.01 × X1) + (0.77 × X2).

Keyword: Ailanthus excelsa, Biometric attributes; Farm plantation; Volume; Yield model.
 

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) being a water loving cereal crop, the water scaricity during the crop period is detrimental to the productivity. The present investiagation was undertaken to study the effect of different yield QTLs under drought and their physiological response to drought. Near-Isogenic Lines (NILs) of IR64 (CB-193 and CB-229) along with IR64, APO and the traditional rice variety Norungan were raised under both water stress and control condition. Infrared Gas Analyser (LICORModel LI 6400 version. 5) was used to observe the gas exchange parameters in each genotype both under control and stress condition in different intervals (52, 58, 66, 72 and 77 days after sowing) of stress induction with diverse moisture content. The reduction in moisture level in pot culture under stress condition minimizes the trait value of all gas exchange parameters viz., photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, ratio between internal and atmospheric CO2 concentration (Ci/Ca) and relative water content in the leaf tissues. Among the genotypes studied, CB-229 (DTY2.2, DTY3.1 and DTY 8.1) had recorded higher photosynthetic rate and relative water content than the NIL CB-193 (DTY3.1 and DTY 8.1) under stress condition. This NIL also maintained the photosynthetic rate (reduction is minimum when stress increased) and relative water content as APO (72 and 77 DAS) when moisture stress is increased upto the lower level in pot culture. Relative water content was estimated by Weatherley (1950) method and expressed in percentage. Several biometrical traits were also observed in both under control and moisture stress condition. The overall study clearly visualized that the combination of three drought QTL line exhibited better performances with higher gas exchange parameter values than two QTL combination line which shown lesser response towards moisture stress.

Keyword: Rice; QTL; Near-Isogenic Lines; Drought and Relative Water Content.
 

The present research was conducted in Jammu city for analyzing Consumer preference towards different chocolate brands. Primary data was collected from the respondents of Jammu city through the market survey using questionnaires as the measurement tool. Percentage method and Garrett ranking technique was used to analyse the data. The sample size taken for the study was 150. The results revealed that majority of the consumers were female i.e. 60 percent. Also the results depicted that the quality and taste of the chocolates are the most influencing factors that impact the consumers’ preference and their purchase decision.

Keywords: Consumer Preference; Market; Purchase; Garrett
Ranking.