Terrain mapping unit-based approach for sustainable agricultural development in India—an example from plains ecosystem at semi-arid interface

‘Green Revolution’ was adopted as National Agricultural Policy by the Government of India to meet the requirements for food grain self-sufficiency. Improved seeds, fertilizers and irrigation were provided as science and technology (S&T) inputs to the soil resource base of the country. Land use changes in order to increase the area of land under cultivation have resulted in sectoral imbalances. The introduction of irrigation, fertilizers and new seed varieties using the district as a unit of agricultural input and management, without consideration of moisture and pedogenetic requirements at the micro-level, have resulted in ecological imbalances and environmental degradation in some parts of the district. Intensive irrigation has resulted in water mining in some blocks, and over a period of years the upper aquifer has been lost and in parts of the Aligarh district water-logging and salinity development has taken place.This paper presents the concept of spatial information systems for sustainable agriculture to eliminate the overdose effect of S&T inputs in a land system such as the fragile ecosystem at the semi-arid border in India.The present study has attempted to integrate the natural resource endowments of lithology, soil, ground-water and geomorphology into terrain mapping units (TMUs). The geological, geomorphological and soil maps were generated using remotely sensed data. For ground-water, well logging was carried out and secondary data regarding depth to water-table were collated. The spatial modelling for depth to water-table was carried out using SURFER software. The files on geology, geomorphology, soil and depth to water-table were digitized and integrated to generate an illuminated model characterized by areas of homogeneity in terms of geology, geomorphology, soil and ground-water conditions to map the TMUs. Intergraph's Modular GIS Environment (MGE) software was used to integrate the multiple data base.For sustainable agriculture the natural boundaries represented by TMUs will be more appropriate as spatial units for the application of agricultural inputs and management practices for the land system, rather than villages, blocks and districts which have cultural boundaries. The methodology proposed will be useful for all ecosystems in semi-arid and arid regions.     

Polar wandering path for India during the Precambrian

Summary The recent radiometric dating on some Precambrian formations of India and the available paleomagnetic data have enhanced the possibility of deducing the Polar wander path for India during the remote past. The data indicate that India was in the northern hemisphere during the Precambrian times. This inference has also been substantiated by the paleoclimatic evidences.     

Stability of remanent magnetization of some dykes from Mysore State,India

Summary The magnetic properties of some dykes from Mysore State, India, have been studied in detail. The rocks were found to have aQ _n ratio varying from 1.5 to 11.6, a remanent coercive force varying from 100 to 250 Oersteds, Curie temperature varying from 250 to 480°C and were found to have lamellae of ilmenite oriented in (111) plane of magnetite. The stable natural remanent magnetization of the rock seems to be of TRM origin with titanomagnetite and low grade titanomaghemite being the main carrier of remanent magnetization.N.G.R.I. Contribution No. 70-215.     

Geomorphology and landscape evolution of bharatpur district, rajasthan

The morphometric analysis of the surface drainage has been carried out for the four micro-watersheds of Bharatpur district, Rajasthan to quantify the drainage morphometry of the district. The morphochronology of landseape evolution has been described. Banaganga represents anomalous drainage, which causes large scale inundation during rainy season. The strain of post-collision Himalayan tectonics resulted in slope mulation in Bharatpur district which changed slope from westerly to easterly. The landform characteristics of Bharatpur district have been arehieved at the National Informatics Center, District Data Base, Bharatpur is alpha numeric mode.     

Number Counts,Confusion, Mapping Issues,and Sky Coverage Analysis for Radio Continuum Surveys through Emu Early Science,EMU-ASKAP,and WODAN Especially for Cosmology Science Goals

In this study, we discuss the challenges radio astronomers face while observing radio continuum sources. We consider issues related to rms noise, confusion, position accuracy, shot noise and how these issues affect observation results, data analysis and the science goals we are trying to achieve. We mainly focus on the Evolutionary Map of the Universe (EMU-ASKAP) sky survey, EMU Early science survey and Westerbork Observations of the Deep APERTIF Northern sky (WODAN). The study will also be useful for future surveys like with possible continuum surveys through MeerKAT (e.g., MIGHTEE) and SKA-1. The late time Integrated Sachs-Wolfe (ISW) effect detection is one of the major areas of research related to dark energy cosmology. We will particularly discuss how technical, data analysis and mapping issues, affect galaxy over/under density dependent science goals like the detection of the late time Integrated Sachs-Wolfe (ISW) effect through wide-field radio continuum surveys.

     

Debris flow susceptibility analysis based on the combined impacts of antecedent earthquakes and droughts: a case study for cascade hydropower stations in the upper Yangtze River,China

The upper Yangtze River region is one of the most frequent debris flow areas in China. The study area contains a cascade of six large hydropower stations located along the river with total capacity of more than 70 million kilowatts. The purpose of the study was to determine potential and dynamic differences in debris flow susceptibility and intensity with regard to seasonal monsoon events. We analyzed this region’s debris flow history by examining the effective peak acceleration of antecedent earthquakes, the impacts of antecedent droughts, the combined effects of earthquakes and droughts, with regard to topography, precipitation, and loose solid material conditions. Based on these factors, we developed a debris flow susceptibility map. Results indicate that the entire debris flow susceptibility area is 167,500 km², of which 26,800 km² falls within the high susceptibility area, with 60,900 km² in medium and 79,800 km² are in low susceptibility areas. Three of the six large hydropower stations are located within the areas with high risk of debris flows. The synthetic zonation map of debris flow susceptibility for the study area corresponds with both the investigation data and actual distribution of debris flows. The results of debris flow susceptibility provide base-line data for mitigating, assessing, controlling and monitoring of debris flows hazards.     

Disaster risk management in agriculture: tragedies of the smallholders

Agriculture sector is exposed to a variety of risks and uncertainties which can lead to sizeable losses in crop yields and alter farm incomes. Risk management is, therefore, an essential element of the overall farm management process. Farmers have number of options in managing farm risks; however, smallholders, due to their small operations and limited financial capabilities, find it difficult to adopt sophisticated risk management strategies to overcome yield and income instabilities at farm level. This study is, therefore, designed to investigate the enabling environment for small farmers to manage climatic risks at farm level. A total of 330 sampled respondents from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan are randomly selected for the study using multistage sampling technique. Analysis of variance technique is employed to compare the risk management adoption decision of small, medium and large farmers. A post hoc analysis is also performed to highlight the difference in means and the magnitude of differences. The results indicate that smallholders have significantly lower access to credit (both formal and informal), formal information sources along with significantly higher perceptions of pest and diseases. Smallholders are also at the tail end in the adoption of precautionary savings and agricultural credit to manage climatic risk at farm level. The study urges for risk management policies particularly in favor of the small farmers and intervention in the existing information and credit provision programs to facilitate smallholders in managing farm risks.     

Comparative study of body composition of different fish species from brackish water pond

Seven species of fish (Catla catla, Cirrhinus mrigala, Cyprinus carpio, Hypophthalmicthys molitrix, Labeo rohita, Mori-Rahu Hybrid and Thalla-Rahu Hybrid) were collected from a brackish water pond near Muzaffargarh, Pakistan for the comparison of body composition. All the seven species were found relatively well adapted to the saline environment though some of them showed significant differences in body composition. Results obtained did not show any adverse effect of salinity on these fish species. The mean values of body constituents, except for protein content (dry and wet body weight) differed significantly (P<0.05) among various fish species. Minimum amount of water content and maximum amount of lipids, organic content and condition factor were observed in Cyprinus carpio indicating that Cyprinus carpio show overall better growth in brackish water as compared to other species. Cyprinus carpio may be recommended for culturing in such water bodies and farmers may be encouraged to farm this species on mass scale.