Agricultural management impacts on groundwater: simulations of existing and alternative management options in Peninsular India

Understanding the principal causes and possible solutions for groundwater depletion in India is important for its water security, especially as it relates to agriculture. A study was conducted in an agricultural watershed in Andhra Pradesh, India to assess the impacts on groundwater of current and alternative agricultural management. Hydrological simulations were used as follows: (1) to evaluate the recharge benefits of water‐harvesting tillage through a modified Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model and (2) to predict the groundwater response to changing extent and irrigation management of rice growing areas. The Green–Ampt infiltration routine was modified in SWAT was modified to represent water‐harvesting tillage using maximum depression storage parameter. Water‐harvesting tillage in rainfed croplands was shown to increase basin‐scale groundwater recharge by 3% and decrease run‐off by 43% compared with existing conventional tillage. The groundwater balance (recharge minus irrigation withdrawals), negative 11 mm/year under existing management changed to positive (18–45 mm/year) when rice growing areas or irrigation depths were reduced. Groundwater balance was sensitive to changes in rice cropland management, meaning even small changes in rice cropland management had large impacts on groundwater availability. The modified SWAT was capable of representing tillage management of varying maximum depression storage, and tillage for water‐harvesting was shown to be a potentially important strategy for producers to enhance infiltration and groundwater recharge, especially in semi‐arid regions where rainfall may be becoming increasingly variable. This enhanced SWAT could be used to evaluate the landscape‐scale impacts of alternative tillage management in other regions that are working to develop strategies for reducing groundwater depletion. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Estimating economic effects of changes in climate and water availability

Social, economic, and environmental systems can be vulnerable to disruptions in water supplies that are likely to accompany future climate changes. Coupled with the challenges of tightening environmental regulations, population growth, economic development and fiscal constraints water supply systems are being pushed beyond the limits of their design and capacity for maintenance. In this paper we briefly review key economic concepts, various economic measures and metrics, and methods to estimate the economic effects on water resources from water supply changes that could accompany climate change. We survey some of the recent empirical literature that focuses on estimates developed for U.S. watersheds at both national and regional scales. Reported estimates of potential damage and loss associated with climate and water supply changes that we observe are significant, though often the metrics vary and make valid and consistent direct cross-comparisons difficult. Whether in terms of changes in GDP or in terms of estimated changes in economic welfare based on associated changes in economic costs and benefits, both national and regional estimates suggest that governments and organizations incorporate prudent steps to assess vulnerabilities to plausible future water supply and demand scenarios and develop responsive adaptation strategies.     

Geochemical characterization of adsorbed light gaseous alkanes in near surface soils of the eastern Ganga basin for hydrocarbon prospecting

This study aims to assess the hydrocarbon potential of Ganga basin utilizing the near surface geochemical prospecting techniques. It is based on the concept that the light gaseous hydrocarbons from the oil and gas reservoirs reach the surface through micro seepage, gets adsorbed to soil matrix and leave their signatures in soils and sediments, which can be quantified. The study showed an increased occurrence of methane (C₁), ethane (C₂) and propane (C₃) in the soil samples. The concentrations of light gaseous hydrocarbons determined by Gas Chromatograph ranged (in ppb) as follows, C₁: 0–519, C₂: 0–7 and C₃: 0–2. The carbon isotopic (VPDB) values of methane varied between ?52.2 to ?27.1‰, indicating thermogenic origin of the desorbed hydrocarbons. High concentrations of hydrocarbon were found to be characteristic of the Muzaffarpur region and the Gandak depression in the basin, signifying the migration of light hydrocarbon gases from subsurface to the surface and the area’s potential for hydrocarbon resources.     

Flood hazard assessment with multiparameter approach derived from coupled 1D and 2D hydrodynamic flow model

Hydrodynamic flow modeling is carried out using a coupled 1D and 2D hydrodynamic flow model in northern India where an industrial plant is proposed. Two flooding scenarios, one considering the flooding source at regional/catchment level and another considering all flooding sources at local level have been simulated. For simulating flooding scenario due to flooding of the upstream catchment, the probable maximum flood (PMF) in the main river is routed and its flooding impact at the plant site is studied, while at the local level flooding, in addition to PMF in the main river, the probable maximum precipitation at the plant site and breaches in the canals near the plant site have been considered. The flood extent, depth, level, duration and maximum flow velocity have been computed. Three parameters namely the flood depth, cross product of flood depth and velocity and flood duration have been used for assessing the flood hazard, and a flood hazard classification scheme has been proposed. Flood hazard assessment for flooding due to upstream catchment and study on local scale facilitates determination of plinth level for the plant site and helps in identifying the flood protection measures.     

Human-Wildlife Conflicts in Paschim Kusaha Village of Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve,Sunsari District,Nepal

Human-wildlife conflict has been one of the most trouble-causing issues in many areas of Nepal including Eastern Nepal. This study assessed the human-wildlife conflict status in Paschim Kusaha Village of Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve (KTWR), Sunsari District, Nepal. Data were collected from 47 respondents of different households through questionnaire surveys and formal and informal interviews. Results revealed that the most destructive wild animals were wild elephants, wild boar, and wild water buffalo and the most raided crops were paddy (63.83 %), maize (19.15%), and potato (17.02%). Most of the encounters between humans and wildlife were recorded at night (after dusk and before dawn) (78.72%). Local people were suffering from damage of physical properties, human harassment or nuisance, and depredation of cropland due to wild animals. A total of 70% of respondents had a positive attitude towards conservation despite disturbing human mortality records (22 deaths in the last five years) from the reserve area and surrounding. Awareness of wildlife behavior together with conservation and easy access to compensation schemes were suggested to minimize conflicts in the area.     

Adsorption of Zinc using Tea Factory Waste: Kinetics,Equilibrium and Thermodynamics

In India, the annual production of tea is ca. 857,000 tonnes, which is 27.4% of the total world production. The amount of tea factory waste (TFW) produced per annum after processing is ca. 190,400 tonnes. TFW can be used as a low cost adsorbent for the removal of toxic metals from the aqueous phase. An investigation was carried out to study the feasibility of the use of TFW as an adsorbent for the removal of the heavy metal, zinc. Equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic studies were reported. The straight line plot of log (q_e–q) versus time t for the adsorption of zinc shows the validity of the Lagergren equation. The various steps involved in adsorbate transport from the solution to the surface of the adsorbent particles were dealt with by using a Weber‐Morris plot, q_e versus t^0.5 for the TFW. The rate controlling parameters, k_id,1 and k_id,2, were determined and it was found that the macro‐pore diffusion rate was much larger than micro‐pore diffusion rate. A batch sorption model, which assumes the pseudo‐second‐order mechanism, was used to predict the rate constant of sorption, the equilibrium sorption capacity and the initial sorption rate with the effect of initial zinc (II) ion concentration. Equilibrium data obtained from the experiments were analyzed with various isotherms, i. e., Freundlich, Langmuir, Redlich‐Peterson and Tempkin. The adsorption equilibrium was reached in 30 min and the adsorption data fitted well to all models. The maximum adsorption capacity of TFW for zinc (II) ions was determined to be 14.2 mg/g. The capacity of adsorption on Zn(II) increased with increasing temperatures and pH. The maximum uptake level of zinc was observed at pH of 4.2. The various thermodynamic parameters, i. e., ΔG°, ΔH° and ΔS°, were estimated. The thermodynamics of the zinc ion/TFW system indicated a spontaneous, endothermic and random nature of the process. The results showed that the TFW, which has low economical value, is a suitable adsorbent for the removal of zinc (II) ions from aqueous solutions.     

Numerical modelling of flow around coastal structures and scour prediction

The nearshore circulation and the wave characteristics are important parameters, which control coastline morphology. The interaction of nearshore circulation with coastal structures, modify the wave characteristics and seabed topography, often resulting in scour near the foundation of the structures. This paper deals with the numerical prediction of nearshore circulation induced due to wave setup in the nearshore region with and without the structure [(i) structure resting on seabed (ii) structure raised above the seabed]. It is also helps understand the deficiencies in studying the coastal characteristics by describing the flow field due to the wave velocity potential alone. Comparison of the results of both nearshore circulation and the wave potential model are discussed and the importance of the study and its prototype applications are highlighted.     

Distribution patterns of medicinal plants along an elevational gradient in central Himalaya, Nepal

This study aimed to compare the distribution patterns and trends of plant parts used among different groups of medicinal plants, geographical regions,and between medicinal plants and all vascular plants.We used the published sources for elevation records of 2,331 medicinal plant species to interpolate presence between minimum and maximum elevations and estimated medicinal plant richness for each 100-m elevational band. Monte Carlo simulations were used to test whether differences in elevational distribution between different groups of medicinal plants were significant. Total number of medicinal plants as well as different groups showed unimodal relationship with elevation. The elevational distributions of medicinal plants significantly differ between regions and between medicinal plant groups.When comparing the richness of all medicinal plants to all vascular plants,Monte Carlo simulations indicated that the numbers of medicinal plants are higher than expected at low elevations.The highest richness of medicinal plants at low elevation could be possibly due to favorable environmental factors such as high temperature, rainfall,sunlight or due to higher density of human population and thus higher pressure on use of any plants in lower elevations.