An approach to digitize analog form of accelerograms recorded at Tarbela—Pakistan

Pakistan has a long history of seismological activity. The devastation caused by Kashmir earthquake has been administered all over the world. In Pakistan first seismological network, consisting of analog accelerograms and seismographs, was setup in early 1969 at Tarbela, where the largest water reservoir of the country is located. An approach to convert analog ground motion records into digital form is explained using a simple technique. The digitized data was compared with the original analog record and found in good agreement. The data has been used to plot response spectra. The digitized data will be available for seismic response analysis of structures and seismic risk analysis of the region.     

Prevailing trends of climatic extremes across Indus-Delta of Sindh-Pakistan

This study examines the variability and change in the patterns of climatic extremes experienced in Indus-Delta of Sindh province of Pakistan, comprising regions of Karachi, Badin, Mohenjodaro, and Rohri. The homogenized daily minimum and maximum temperature and precipitation data for a 36-year period were used to calculate 13 and 11 indices of temperature and precipitation extremes with the help of RClimDex, a program written in the statistical software package R. A non-parametric Mann–Kendall test and Sen’s slope estimates were used to determine the statistical significance and magnitude of the calculated trend. Temperatures of summer days and tropical nights increased in the region with overall significant warming trends for monthly maximum temperature as well as for warm days and nights reflecting dry conditions in the study area. The warm extremes and nighttime temperature indices showed greater trends than cold extremes and daytime indices depicting an overall warming trends in the Delta. Historic decrease in the acreage of major crops and over 33% decrease in agriculture credit for Sindh are the indicators of adverse impacts of warmer and drier weather on Sindh agriculture. Trends reported for Karachi and Badin are expected to decrease rice cultivation, hatching of fisheries, and mangroves forest surrounding these cities. Increase in the prevailing temperature trends will lead to increasingly hotter and drier summers resulting to constraints on cotton, wheat, and rice yield in Rohri and Mohenjodaro areas due to increased crop water requirements that may be met with additional groundwater pumping; nonetheless, the depleted groundwater resources would have a direct impact on the region’s economy.     

Evaluation of arid and semi-arid ecotypes of guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.) for salinity (NaCl) tolerance

The germplasm of 15 guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.) ecotypes was collected from different stressed ecozones of Pakistan to study the morphogenetic parameters under various levels of salt stress. The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design with three repeats and three treatments, i.e. 3, 9 and 15 dS m⁻¹ in 135 pots lined with polythene bags. The results showed that salt stress had considerable effect on plant height, root length, roof fresh and dry weights, shoot fresh and dry weights and seed yield per plant. However, ecotype/accession 281/3 and 239/2 performed better than others at higher salinity levels.     

Genotypic and environmental interaction in advanced lines of rice under salt-affected soils of Punjab

Sixteen genotypes developed through hybridization and mutation breeding techniques were evaluated during the year 2003–04 on nine locations covering most of the area of Punjab province including Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh and Jhang. NIAB-IRRI-9, Jhona-379 salt tolerant genotypes and super Basmati, a salt sensitive variety were included as standard checks. The tested material (six genotypes) was generated by crossing fine varieties of rice viz. Basmati-370 and Basmati-385 with three coarse varieties of rice viz. NIAB-IRRI-9, Jhona-349 and NIAB-Rice-1. The mutants (seven mutants) were derived by gamma irradiation of rice varieties, Basmati-370 and Basmati-385. The nine sets of experiments were conducted in the naturally high saline sodic soils having EC range of 9.2–18.13 d/Sm pH=8.65–9.50, and SAR=20.7–37.15. The seed yield data collected at maturity and stability parameters were computed to know genotypic x environment interaction and varietals performance. The combined analysis of variance showed highly significant variance in case of varieties, locations and varieties x locations interaction. Varieties and varieties x Environment (Lin) also showed highly significant differences. It means that genotypes exhibited different behavior in different locations / environments which is due to their different genetic make up. The behavior may be cross over (in which significant change in ranking occurs from one environment to another) or cross over nature (in which case the ranking of genotype remains constant across environments and the interaction is significant because of change in the magnitude of response) depending upon the ranking order of genotypes performance under different environment. In our study, only super Basmati behavior was of almost non cross over nature, while others had cross over type of interaction. Based on overall mean seed performance, mutant NIAB-Rice-4 and DM-38/88 produced significantly the highest grain yield (5.6 t/ha) followed by mutant line NIAB-Rice-5 (5.4 t/ha) and NIAB-rice-2 (5.3 t/ha). The lowest performing genotype was super Basmati (3.0 t/ha). The coarse variety Jhona-349 produced (4.8 t/ha) grain yield. Mutant line DM-38/88 showed significant regression co-efficient differences from unity while mutant line NIAB-Rice-4 showed non significant difference of regression co-efficient from unity. Mutant line, NIAB-Rice-4 also showed non significant difference of standard deviation to regression co-efficient from zero. All the three parameters of stability i.e. overall mean seed yield, regression co-efficient and standard deviation to regression, provided clear evidence that mutant line NIAB-Rice-4 produced maximum stable yield compared to super Basmati.     

Cadmium (Cd) concentration in wheat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum</Emphasis>) grown in Cd-spiked soil varies with the doses and biochar feedstock

Biochar is considered a promising amendment for the reduction of metal concentration in plants; however, the effects of biochar in terms of dose and feedstock on metal uptake by plants remain widely unclear. In the current study, three individual biochars were prepared at 450 °C from different feedstocks (wheat straw, sukh chain (Pongamia pinnata), and cotton sticks). The main aim was to evaluate their ability to remediate cadmium (Cd)-spiked soil in terms of growth response and Cd uptake by wheat (Triticum aestivum) tissues. Biochars were separately applied at 0, 1, and 2% (w/w) in Cd-spiked soil and wheat was grown until maturity in pots and then morphological and physiological parameters and Cd concentrations in grains, roots, and shoots were determined. The post-harvest soil was analyzed for extractable Cd concentrations. Plants grown in Cd-spiked soil treated with biochars had higher seed germination, lengths of roots, shoots, and spikes, grains per spike and leaf relative water contents, chlorophyll contents, and dry weight of roots, shoots, and grains as compared to the untreated control. Biochar treatments significantly decreased the Cd concentrations in shoots, roots, and grains as well as total Cd uptake by grains. Soil extractable Cd concentrations were significantly decreased with biochar treatments. The application of 2.0% wheat straw biochar was the most efficient treatment in increasing grain yield and decreasing Cd in grains as well as soil extractable Cd than the other two biochars and doses applied.     

Prioritization of sub-watersheds based on morphometric and land use analysis using remote sensing and GIS techniques

Watershed prioritization has gained importance in natural resources management, especially in the context of watershed management. Morphometric analysis has been commonly applied to prioritization of watersheds. The present study makes an attempt to prioritize sub-watersheds based on morphometric and land use characteristics using remote sensing and GIS techniques in Kanera watershed of Guna district, Madhya Pradesh. Various morphometric parameters, namely linear and shape have been determined for each sub-watershed and assigned ranks on the basis of value/relationship so as to arrive at a computed value for a final ranking of the sub-watersheds. Land use/land cover change analysis of the sub-watersheds has been carried out using multi-temporal data of IRS LISS II of 1989 and IRS LISS III of 2001. The study demonstrates the significant land use changes especially in cultivated lands, open scrub, open forest, water bodies and wastelands from 1989 to 2001. Based on morphometric and land use/land cover analysis, the sub-watersheds have been classified into three categories as high, medium and low in terms of priority for conservation and management of natural resources. Out of the seven sub-watersheds, two sub-watersheds viz., SW1 and SW6 qualify for high priority, whereas SW7 has been categorised as medium priority based on the integration of morphometric and land use change analysis.     

Development of a conjunctive use model to evaluate alternative management options for surface and groundwater resources

A conjunctive use model has been developed to evaluate alternative management options for surface and groundwater resources. A simple water balance approach was used to estimate net recharge to the aquifer. The groundwater model FEFLOW takes net recharge as an input for the water balance calculation and simulates flow in the groundwater under all boundary stresses. The developed model was applied to an irrigated area in the Indus Basin, Pakistan, to predict groundwater levels up to 2010 in response to the possible need for intervention in irrigation and/or agricultural practices. A geographical information system (GIS) was used to assemble various types of spatial data. The study revealed that an increase in pumpage from the present rate would further strain the scarce water resources. Lining of watercourses and adjustment in cropping pattern could be adopted as alternatives for better management of surface and groundwater resources.

Tillage and farm manure affect root growth and nutrient uptake of wheat and rice under semi-arid conditions

Tillage systems affect soil properties, crop growth and nutrient uptake under various agro-ecological conditions. The uptake of water and nutrients are largely dependent on the root systems of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.). The application of manure has direct influence on the nutrient uptake by the crop plants. A 2 year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of tillage and farm manure on root growth by measuring the root length density on a sandy clay loam (Typic calciargid soil). Three tillage systems were used; (i) minimum tillage (MT), (ii) deep tillage (DT) and (iii) conventional tillage (CT). Three farm manure levels were used; (i) FM₀ (only chemical fertilizers), (ii) FM₁₅ (farm manure at 15 Mg ha^?1) and (iii) FM₃₀ (farm manure at 30 Mg ha^?1). The incorporation of farm manure into soil markedly improved the root length density (RLD) of both wheat and rice crops. For wheat, the application of FM₃₀ increased RLD by 16% and 9% in cases of deep tillage and minimum tillage, respectively. For rice, the increase in RLD at the same farm manure rate (FM₃₀) was 13% and 17%, during first and second year, respectively. Averaged across tillage, the trend of RLD for both wheat and rice was DT > CT > MT. The incorporation of FM has increased the uptake of N, P and K significantly (P < 0.05), thereby increasing the agronomic parameters. The manure may be used to ameliorate the deleterious effects of tillage for sustainable crop yield.     

Petrofacies,provenance, and paleocurrent analysis of Pachmarhi sandstone (Early Triassic), Satpura basin,Central India

The Satpura Gondwana basin hosts a ～5 km thick siliciclastic succession that unconformably overlies the Precambrian basement. The Gondwana sequence in this basin starts from Early Permian (Talchir Formation) to Lower Cretaceous (Jabalpur Formation). The aim of this study is to (1) identify the source rock (provenance) for Early Triassic Pachmarhi sediments in the Satpura Gondwana succession and (2) to understand the relative role of tectonics and climate in determining the sandstone composition. These sandstones are medium to coarse-grained, moderately to moderately well sorted, subangular to subrounded, of moderate sphericity, and composed of several varieties of quartz, feldspar, rock fragments, and micas. Petrographically, the Pachmarhi sandstones are mostly quartzarenite and subarkose. The petrofacies in Qt–F–L and Qm–F–Lt triangular diagrams show that the bulk of the Pachmarhi was derived from continental (cratonic) source, especially from craton interior. Petrofacies, together with paleocurrent data, suggest that Pachmarhi Formation was deposited by a network of braided river system, which flowed dominantly from southeast to northwest. The study suggests that the sediments were mostly derived from Precambrian granites, gneiss, and metasedimentary basement rocks straddling the southern margin of the basin. Paleocurrent data also corroborates this contention.