Growth and water relation parameters in drought-stressed Coriaria nepalensis seedlings

In the present study, growth and water relation parameters were analysed in drought-stressed Coriaria nepalensis Wall. seedlings. C. nepalensis seedlings were subjected to four drought cycles of 7, 14, 21, and 28-days, and to one control level (watered on alternate days) in a glasshouse. The seedlings failed to survive a 28-days drought during summer. Osmotic adjustment (defined as the decrease in osmotic potential at zero or full turgor in response to water deficit) was measured as the difference between the osmotic potential of seedlings watered on alternate days (control) and those subjected to 21-days drought cycle. Seedlings subjected to 21-days drought had a predawn water potential of −2.60 MPa, and showed an osmotic adjustment of −1.95 MPa at full turgor and −2.17 MPa at zero turgor. The growth of seedlings was positively related to moisture and with water potential. With decline in soil moisture the root:shoot ratio increased while leaf weight ratio decreased. Leaf characteristics, such as leaf number, leaf area, leaf area ratio, specific leaf area and leaf drop, were also affected by moisture stress. This study has indicated that osmotic adjustment is a major adaptive mechanism of C. nepalensis that aids successful regeneration of seedlings in degraded sites with inhospitable soil conditions.     

Inelastic seismic response of one-storey,asymmetric-plan systems: Effects of stiffness and strength distribution

The effects of plan-wise distribution of stiffness and strength-as determined by the number, location, orientation and yield deformations of resisting elements-on the inelastic response of one-storey systems are evaluated. In particular, various systems are investigated for wide ranges of parameters involved, with the objective of establishing how the response is influenced by: (i) the presence of resisting elements perpendicular to the direction of ground motion; (ii) the number of resisting elements along the direction of ground motion; (iii) the overstrength typical of code-designed buildings; (iv) the relative values of strength and stiffness eccentricities; and (v) whether the asymmetry of the system is due to eccentricity in stiffness or in mass. The results presented for a simple excitation make it possible to explain the inconsistencies in conclusions from various earlier investigations, and to evaluate their applicability to actual buildings.     

MODFLOW based groundwater resource evaluation and prediction in Mendha sub-basin,NE Rajasthan

A direct approach to designing MODFLOW finite difference model is tedious and less intuitive, specifically for complex boundary and initial conditions. Therefore, a MODFLOW model can be developed either using a grid or conceptual model approach. The conceptual model is created using Geographic Information System (GIS) objects including points, arcs and polygons so that it can more accurately represent real world condition. It is a simplified representation of the site to be modelled including the model domain, boundary conditions, sources, sinks and material zones. Advantage of conceptual model is that most of the input can be in terms of physical objects, such as wells, lakes, recharge zones etc which can then be converted to a grid based mathematical model with the help of preprocessor software. This paper presents the results of a mathematical groundwater model developed for the northern part of Mendha sub-basin in the semi arid region of northeastern Rajasthan, employing conceptual groundwater modelling approach. For this purpose, Groundwater Modelling Software (GMS) was used which supports the MODFLOW-2000 code. For the purpose of modelling the Source/ Sink Coverage, Recharge Coverage, Extraction Coverage, Return Flow Coverage and Soil Coverage were considered. The model was calibrated against the historical and observed water level data for periods 1998 to 2003 and 2003 to 2005 respectively.     

A new methodology for water resources multicriteria decision making under uncertainty

A multiciteria decision making problem in water resource is addressed through the generation of fuzzy Pareto optimal set. Methodology is using positive and negative ideal solutions (Lai, Y.-J., Liu, T.-Y., Hwang, C.L. (1994). TOPSIS for MODM. European Journal of Operational Research 76, 486-500) and a set of weights assigned to the objective functions in fuzzy triangular form. Solution of the problem is obtained by transforming each objective function into a set of three objective functions. A planning problem of multicriteria waste water treatment from the literature is used as an illustrative example to demonstrate the utility of the proposed methodology. The obtained fuzzy Pareto solution set has been compared with the deterministic solution set. It is shown that the proposed approach can: (a) capture the uncertainty associated with the assignment of weights; and (b) provide the decision makers with a wider range of solutions to select from.     

Probabilistic seismic hazard assessment for Romania and sensitivity analysis: A case of joint consideration of intermediate-depth (Vrancea) and shallow (crustal) seismicity

The earthquake risk on Romania is one of the highest in Europe, and seismic hazard for almost half of the territory of Romania is determined by the Vrancea seismic region, which is situated beneath the southern Carpathian Arc. The region is characterized by a high rate of occurrence of large earthquakes in a narrow focal volume at depth from 70 to 160 km. Besides the Vrancea area, several zones of shallow seismicity located within and outside the Romanian territory are considered as seismically dangerous. We present the results of probabilistic seismic hazard analysis, which implemented the “logic tree” approach, and which considered both the intermediate-depth and the shallow seismicity. Various available models of seismicity and ground-motion attenuation were used as the alternative variants. Seismic hazard in terms of macroseismic intensities, peak ground acceleration, and response spectra was evaluated for various return periods. Sensitivity study was performed to analyze the impact of variation of input parameters on the hazard results. The uncertainty on hazard estimates may be reduced by better understanding of parameters of the Vrancea source zone and the zones of crustal seismicity. Reduction of uncertainty associated with the ground-motion models is also very important issue for Romania.     

Paradigm and ecological implication of changing agricultural land-use: A case study from Govind Wildlife Sanctuary, Central Himalaya, India

The paper scrutinizes that the changes in any sub-system(i.e.agriculture,livestock and forest) have direct impact on biophysical and social processes in village ecosystem of the central Himalayan region.In view of this,we studied the changes in spatial patterns of agricultural land use and dependency of agroecosystem on forest and animal husbandry over a period of two decades.Based on data analysis it was found that the cultivation of some traditional crops has either been abandoned in the area or declined by 25%-85% due to introduction of cash crops viz.,potato,kidney bean and apple farming with acreage increased up to 51%-72% in the last three decades.Livestock population of different categories has declined drastically by 17%-75%,and has resulted shortage of farmyard manure,deterioration of soil quality and fertility which leads to un-sustainability of agriculture system.The changes in agrobiodiversity have led to the dramatic increase in soil loss and runoff from the croplands together with the increase pressure on forests.The economic evaluation of each crop showed higher monetary benefit from cash crops as compared to traditional crops.Among all the evaluated crops,the monetary output/input ratio was found highest(3.04) for kidney bean and lowest(1.26) for paddy.Changes in land use and management have improved household income but at the cost of forest degradation,less productive animal husbandry and loss of agrodiversity in the region.Therefore,there is an urgent need to bring desirable changes in agricultural policy,research,land use and efficient management of the resources for maintaining sustainability in agro and Himalayan forest ecosystem.     

Holocene soil chronoassociation in part of the Middle Gangetic Plain: morphological and micromorphological characteristics

Systematic variations in soil characteristics related to degree of soil profile development in part of the Middle Gangetic Plain suggest a soil chronoassociation similar to the soil chronosequences observed on some river terrace formed by tectonic uplift. This chronoassociation has five members QG1 to QG5, the youngest being QG1 (< 500 yr BP). Variations in degree of horizon differentiation, profile thickness, clay accumulation, plasma separation, argillan thickness, weathering stage and day mineralogy have been used to determine the degree of soil development.
Pedogenic processes active in these soils are decalcification, translocation of clay, sesquioxide and organic matter, plasma separation and weathering of minerals. The amount and variability of clay minerals are significantly related to the type and duration of pedogenesis in different parts of the area. The oldest soils with pedogenic calcite (10 000 yr BP) developed during a dry period. Since 8000 yr BP climatic conditions of higher rainfall and better drainage have prevailed in the area.
Neotectonic movements have tilted the Gandak megafan block and have caused shifting of the Gandak river to the east about 105 km from its original course, leaving behind numerous channels, ponds, lakes and other features of impeded drainage.     

Subcrustal Low Velocity Layers in Central India and their Implications

A 2-D subcrustal velocity model for the central Indian continental lithosphere has been derived by travel time and relative amplitude modeling of a digitally normalized analog seismic record section of the Hirapur-Mandla DSS profile, using a ray-tracing technique. Some prominent wave groups with apparent velocities slightly higher than the Moho reflection phase (P_MP) are identified on the normalized record sections assembled with a reduction velocity of 6 km s⁻¹. We interpret these phases as the wide-angle reflections from subcrustal lithospheric boundaries. Comparison of synthetic seismograms with the observed record section shows that the observed phases cannot be explained either by multiples or by the P-to-S converted phase (P_MS) from the Moho. Subcrustal velocity models either with a velocity increase or with a single low velocity layer (LVL) also do not provide a satisfactory fit. We infer that a subcrustal velocity model with two alternate LVLs (velocity 7.2 km s⁻¹), separated by a 6-km thick high velocity layer (velocity 8.1 km s⁻¹), can satisfy both the observed travel times and amplitudes. The prominent reflection phases are modeled at depths of 49, 51, 57 and 60 km. It is inferred that the subcrustal lithosphere in the central Indian region has a lamellar structure with varying structural and mechanical properties. The alternating LVLs, occurring at relatively shallow depths below Moho, may be associated with the zones of weakness and lower viscosity suggesting continued mobility, with a possible thermal source in the upper mantle. This explains the source of observed high heat flow values in the central Indian region.     

The effect of ship scrapping industry and its associated wastes on the biomass production and biodiversity of biota in in situ condition at Alang

The main pollutants for the ship scrapping industry and its associated wastes at Alang are heavy metals, petroleum hydrocarbon and bacterial contaminations. The concentration of iron, manganese, cobalt, copper, zinc, lead, cadmium, nickel and mercury were 25 to 15,500% more at nearshore station of Alang as compared to control site at Piram. The concentration of heavy metals in the nearshore station of Alang was always higher than its concentration at 10 km away. The concentration of petroleum hydrocarbon was 16,973 and 53,900% more at the nearshore and 10 km away respectively at Alang as compared to controls. The concentration of chlorophyll-a and phaeophytin were in non-detectable range (< 0.2 and < 0.1 mg m3) or much lower concentration at both the stations of Alang as compared to controls. The total viable count, total coliform, Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus and other Vibrio, Streptococcus faecalis, Shigella, Salmonella, Proteus, and Klebsiella were always higher (17%-605%) at the nearshore station of Alang as compared to control. Similar trend was observed at 10 km away from Alang. Bacteria in sediment also showed the same pattern of variation. Phytoplankton counts at the nearshore station and 10 km away from Alang were only slightly raised. In contrast to phytoplankton, the zooplankton showed considerable reduction of growth (-10 to -66%) at Alang.     

Cyclicity in early Permian fluviatile Gondwana coal measures: An example from Giridih and Saharjuri basins,Bihar, India

The Karharbari and Barakar coal measures of Giridih and Saharjuri basins of Bihar, eastern India, comprise an interbedded assemblage of sandstone, shale and coal in variable abundance. The lithofacies composition records a progressive decrease in sandstone and enrichment of shale and coal from Karharbari up to Barakar. Application of first-order embedded Markov-chain statistics to subsurface data of Karharbari (52 borehole logs) and Barakar (10 borehole logs) reveals that deposition in both the coal measures followed a Markovian mechanism with variable probability, to yield a sequence of upward transition from sandstone through shale to coal. The repetitive fining-upward cycles are asymmetrical, i.e. sandstone → shale → coal → sandstone in the case of Karharbari, but symmetrical as sandstone → shale → coal → shale in Barakar.The abundance of sandstone and the asymmetrical nature of Karharbari cycles are attributed to abrupt shifting of channel bars in low-sinuosity anabranching streams. By contrast, the subequal amount of sandstone, shale and coal forming symmetrical cycles in the overlying Barakar Formation is due perhaps to a slow and gradual shift of the stream channels over and across the adjacent subenvironments of the flood plain.