Objective: To enumerate the diversity of important medicinal plants used traditionally by the local populace in biodiversity rich and temperate Himalayan ranges of Bandipora district, Jammu and Kashmir, India. Methods...Objective: To enumerate the diversity of important medicinal plants used traditionally by the local populace in biodiversity rich and temperate Himalayan ranges of Bandipora district, Jammu and Kashmir, India. Methods: Methods used to explore the plants with medicinal value and to record associated ethnomedicinal knowledge included semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and walk-in-the-woods with local knowledgeable persons, traditional practitioners called "Bhoeris" and tribals(Gujjars and Bakkerwals). Results: During plant exploration in this floristically rich Himalayan region, a very interesting and less-known species of the genus Prenanthes L.,(Asteraceae) was recorded. On examination, the species was identified as Prenanthes violaefolia Decne., which represents a first report from Kashmir Himalaya, India. Conclusions: Prenanthes violaefolia could serve as an important source of new potent compounds provided that it is subjected to thorough phytochemical and pharmacological investigations.展开更多
Introduction:Evidence is mounting that traditional knowledge can play a critical role in shaping the biodiversity conservation strategies and maintaining ecosystem services.This study was conducted with Adi community ...Introduction:Evidence is mounting that traditional knowledge can play a critical role in shaping the biodiversity conservation strategies and maintaining ecosystem services.This study was conducted with Adi community of Arunachal Pradesh(Ar P)state in the Eastern Indian Himalayas to understand as how local systems of forest classification governs conservation tradition and influences subsistence livelihoods.Twenty Adi villages were sampled from East Siang district of Ar P.A total of 197 men and 204 women(total of 401)Adi respondents were selected for this study.A combination of methodologies including in-depth interview,transect walks,focus group discussion,participant observation and informal interactions were combined for data collection.Results:Local forests are classified into 10 different categories based on indicators such as topography,cultural significance,use typology,ownership rights and plant diversity indicators.Local people assign different values(economic,cultural and ecological)to different forest types.Overall,morang followed by regpi and homegardens are perceived to be more valuable to the local needs than other forests with relative ranking of a particular forest reflecting its sustainability.Adis access several diverse services from these community-managed forests.Compared to men(3–35%),the role of women was assessed to be much higher(65 to 100%)in conserving forest biodiversity.Woman-led practices,instrumental in sustainable forest management,included deliberate manipulations of micro-habitats,sustainable harvesting strategies and species domestication.Men were mostly involved in ownership and decision-making roles and in devising social norms to ensure sustainability.Adi celebrate a number of cultural events to sustain biodiversity.Forest-based livelihoods are intrinsically connected to forest resource conservation and are governed by community approaches.Most of the community members gather plants,hunt wild animals and access other ecosystem services from these forests to sustain their livelihoods.Community-owned forests are collectively managed by an indigenous institution‘Kebang’.Conflicts relating to forest land use and resource management are resolved by the customary chief‘Gaon Burha’and his associates using traditional norms.Conclusions:Adi’s system of forest classification,based on ecological,socio-cultural and livelihood indicators,is a location-specific yet comprehensive in nature.Study suggests that integrating the local indicators applied in classifying and strategies applied in managing the local forests can provide valuable insights to the policy makers for the sustainable conservation of forest resources.展开更多
Background In the Indo-Gangetic Plain,rice-wheat is the most extensively practiced crop rotation.The escalating issue of crop residue burning,particularly rice straw,and the necessity to lower the exorbitant expenses ...Background In the Indo-Gangetic Plain,rice-wheat is the most extensively practiced crop rotation.The escalating issue of crop residue burning,particularly rice straw,and the necessity to lower the exorbitant expenses associated with fertilizer inputs stand out as significant challenges for farmers in the region.A well-suited integrated nutrient management(INM)strategy that focuses on recycling crop residues can serve as a solution to address these issues.Such a strategy not only mitigates air pollution resulting from residue burning but also helps combat water pollution due to nitrate losses from agroecosystems.Field experiments were used to evaluate the suitability of eight INM-modules that included various combinations of inorganic fertilizer rates(50%,100%,150%of recommended dose),crop residues(wheat and rice stubble retention at 30 cm standing stubble equivalent to 1/3 the straw yield),rice straw compost(RSC),farmyard manure(FYM),and green manuring(GM),compared to 100%recommended dose of fertilizers(F)and no fertilizer application.Results There was a considerable improvement in nitrogen mineralization,grain yields,and nitrogen use efficiency under GM+RSC-F50 and GM+FYM-F50.These INM modules would permit a 50%reduction in the use of chemical fertilizers.There was a little yield penalty with in situ rice residue incorporation at 100%F;however,this could be overcome with 150%F fertilizer application.In situ retention of wheat straw with a full application of fertilizer resulted in steadily rising crop yields over time.Changes in the redox potential,soil pH,and soil organic carbon best accounted for the observed trajectories in nitrogen use efficiency.Conclusion The most promising INM modules for adoption by farmers in the Indo-Gangetic Plain to judiciously use crop residues and curtail chemical fertilizer inputs are green manuring with Sesbania aculeata+rice straw compost at 5 t ha^(−1)+only 50%of recommended dose of fertilizers(GM+RSC-F50),and green manuring with Sesbania aculeata+farmyard manure at 5 t ha^(−1)+only 50%of recommended dose of fertilizers(GM+FYM-F50).Sole incorporation of crop residues without nitrogen augmentation from other sources might not help curtail chemical fertilizer use.Composting rice straw,which otherwise is widely burnt,proved a useful nitrogen source and a vital component of INM.Waste rice straw composting at the community scale and its application as a nutrient source can help achieve sustainable nitrogen management in the agroecosystems of Indo-Gangetic Plain.展开更多
Background The extent of natural salt-laden groundwaters used for irrigation is increasing worldwide,which is a fast-emerging threat to agroecosystems and global food security.The salt buildup in the soil is linked to...Background The extent of natural salt-laden groundwaters used for irrigation is increasing worldwide,which is a fast-emerging threat to agroecosystems and global food security.The salt buildup in the soil is linked to deteriorated soil chemical,physical,and biological health and decreased land productivity.Alkali waters with high residual sodium carbonate(RSC)is one of the severe poor-quality waters that deteriorate soil.We evaluated soil microbial dynamics and soil health at critical growth stages of rice crop receiving two-decade-long irrigation with three levels of alkali water and two reclamation strategies.These included good-quality water(GQW),alkali water(ALKW)with an RSC concentration of 5 me L^(-1)(ALKW1),ALKW with an RSC concentration of 10 me L^(-1)(ALKW2),ALKW2 treated to neutralize RSC to 5 me L^(-1)using gypsum(CaSO_(4)·2H_(2)O;ALKW2+GYP),and ALKW2 treated with sulfuric acid(H_(2)SO_(4);ALKW2+SA).Eleven microbial parameters were used to develop a soil microbial activity index(SMAI),and eight soil health indicators were correlated with changes in SMAI and crop productivity.Results The SMAI peaked under good-quality water(GQW)conditions(0.84–0.89),while the lowest values were recorded under ALKW_(2)(0.06–0.18).Neutralized alkali waters,ALKW_(2)+SA and ALKW2+GYP,signifcantly improved SMAI with corresponding values of 0.25–0.35 and 0.13–0.32,respectively.SMAI across all stages correlated positively(R^(2)=0.91–0.98)with rice yield.Microbial activity varied with the crop growth stage,peaking at tillering.Gypsum application alone,aimed at neutralizing alkalinity from an RSC of 10 to 5 me L^(-1),proved insufcient in bringing the SMAI up to the ALKW1(RSC level of 5 me L^(-1)).Conclusions The application of dilute sulfuric acid demonstrated better results in restoring the soil microbial activity index than gypsum amendment;however,sulfuric acid treatment depends on native calcium carbonate(CaCO_(3))dissolution for its efectiveness.It may not sufce for soil stability improvement in the long term,especially when native CaCO_(3)is low.Therefore,integrating gypsum and dilute sulfuric acid for RSC neutralization is worthwhile;however,further assessment is needed to confrm their combined impact on soil biochemical and physical properties.展开更多
基金Supported by Department of Science and Technology(DST),New Delhi,Government of India
文摘Objective: To enumerate the diversity of important medicinal plants used traditionally by the local populace in biodiversity rich and temperate Himalayan ranges of Bandipora district, Jammu and Kashmir, India. Methods: Methods used to explore the plants with medicinal value and to record associated ethnomedicinal knowledge included semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and walk-in-the-woods with local knowledgeable persons, traditional practitioners called "Bhoeris" and tribals(Gujjars and Bakkerwals). Results: During plant exploration in this floristically rich Himalayan region, a very interesting and less-known species of the genus Prenanthes L.,(Asteraceae) was recorded. On examination, the species was identified as Prenanthes violaefolia Decne., which represents a first report from Kashmir Himalaya, India. Conclusions: Prenanthes violaefolia could serve as an important source of new potent compounds provided that it is subjected to thorough phytochemical and pharmacological investigations.
基金All data collection,data analysis and write-up of the study were financially supported by the College of Horticulture and Forestry,Central Agricultural University,Pasighat,Arunachal Pradesh,India,through intra-mural research project and Rural Horticulture Work Experience(RHWE).
文摘Introduction:Evidence is mounting that traditional knowledge can play a critical role in shaping the biodiversity conservation strategies and maintaining ecosystem services.This study was conducted with Adi community of Arunachal Pradesh(Ar P)state in the Eastern Indian Himalayas to understand as how local systems of forest classification governs conservation tradition and influences subsistence livelihoods.Twenty Adi villages were sampled from East Siang district of Ar P.A total of 197 men and 204 women(total of 401)Adi respondents were selected for this study.A combination of methodologies including in-depth interview,transect walks,focus group discussion,participant observation and informal interactions were combined for data collection.Results:Local forests are classified into 10 different categories based on indicators such as topography,cultural significance,use typology,ownership rights and plant diversity indicators.Local people assign different values(economic,cultural and ecological)to different forest types.Overall,morang followed by regpi and homegardens are perceived to be more valuable to the local needs than other forests with relative ranking of a particular forest reflecting its sustainability.Adis access several diverse services from these community-managed forests.Compared to men(3–35%),the role of women was assessed to be much higher(65 to 100%)in conserving forest biodiversity.Woman-led practices,instrumental in sustainable forest management,included deliberate manipulations of micro-habitats,sustainable harvesting strategies and species domestication.Men were mostly involved in ownership and decision-making roles and in devising social norms to ensure sustainability.Adi celebrate a number of cultural events to sustain biodiversity.Forest-based livelihoods are intrinsically connected to forest resource conservation and are governed by community approaches.Most of the community members gather plants,hunt wild animals and access other ecosystem services from these forests to sustain their livelihoods.Community-owned forests are collectively managed by an indigenous institution‘Kebang’.Conflicts relating to forest land use and resource management are resolved by the customary chief‘Gaon Burha’and his associates using traditional norms.Conclusions:Adi’s system of forest classification,based on ecological,socio-cultural and livelihood indicators,is a location-specific yet comprehensive in nature.Study suggests that integrating the local indicators applied in classifying and strategies applied in managing the local forests can provide valuable insights to the policy makers for the sustainable conservation of forest resources.
基金supported by the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture(NICRA)initiative(Grant number:ICAR-DARE-NICRA-03)the ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute,Karnal.
文摘Background In the Indo-Gangetic Plain,rice-wheat is the most extensively practiced crop rotation.The escalating issue of crop residue burning,particularly rice straw,and the necessity to lower the exorbitant expenses associated with fertilizer inputs stand out as significant challenges for farmers in the region.A well-suited integrated nutrient management(INM)strategy that focuses on recycling crop residues can serve as a solution to address these issues.Such a strategy not only mitigates air pollution resulting from residue burning but also helps combat water pollution due to nitrate losses from agroecosystems.Field experiments were used to evaluate the suitability of eight INM-modules that included various combinations of inorganic fertilizer rates(50%,100%,150%of recommended dose),crop residues(wheat and rice stubble retention at 30 cm standing stubble equivalent to 1/3 the straw yield),rice straw compost(RSC),farmyard manure(FYM),and green manuring(GM),compared to 100%recommended dose of fertilizers(F)and no fertilizer application.Results There was a considerable improvement in nitrogen mineralization,grain yields,and nitrogen use efficiency under GM+RSC-F50 and GM+FYM-F50.These INM modules would permit a 50%reduction in the use of chemical fertilizers.There was a little yield penalty with in situ rice residue incorporation at 100%F;however,this could be overcome with 150%F fertilizer application.In situ retention of wheat straw with a full application of fertilizer resulted in steadily rising crop yields over time.Changes in the redox potential,soil pH,and soil organic carbon best accounted for the observed trajectories in nitrogen use efficiency.Conclusion The most promising INM modules for adoption by farmers in the Indo-Gangetic Plain to judiciously use crop residues and curtail chemical fertilizer inputs are green manuring with Sesbania aculeata+rice straw compost at 5 t ha^(−1)+only 50%of recommended dose of fertilizers(GM+RSC-F50),and green manuring with Sesbania aculeata+farmyard manure at 5 t ha^(−1)+only 50%of recommended dose of fertilizers(GM+FYM-F50).Sole incorporation of crop residues without nitrogen augmentation from other sources might not help curtail chemical fertilizer use.Composting rice straw,which otherwise is widely burnt,proved a useful nitrogen source and a vital component of INM.Waste rice straw composting at the community scale and its application as a nutrient source can help achieve sustainable nitrogen management in the agroecosystems of Indo-Gangetic Plain.
基金support for this work was provided by Indian Council of Agricultural Research(ICAR)NICRA project(National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture)supported the work through grant no.ICAR-DARE-NICRA-03.
文摘Background The extent of natural salt-laden groundwaters used for irrigation is increasing worldwide,which is a fast-emerging threat to agroecosystems and global food security.The salt buildup in the soil is linked to deteriorated soil chemical,physical,and biological health and decreased land productivity.Alkali waters with high residual sodium carbonate(RSC)is one of the severe poor-quality waters that deteriorate soil.We evaluated soil microbial dynamics and soil health at critical growth stages of rice crop receiving two-decade-long irrigation with three levels of alkali water and two reclamation strategies.These included good-quality water(GQW),alkali water(ALKW)with an RSC concentration of 5 me L^(-1)(ALKW1),ALKW with an RSC concentration of 10 me L^(-1)(ALKW2),ALKW2 treated to neutralize RSC to 5 me L^(-1)using gypsum(CaSO_(4)·2H_(2)O;ALKW2+GYP),and ALKW2 treated with sulfuric acid(H_(2)SO_(4);ALKW2+SA).Eleven microbial parameters were used to develop a soil microbial activity index(SMAI),and eight soil health indicators were correlated with changes in SMAI and crop productivity.Results The SMAI peaked under good-quality water(GQW)conditions(0.84–0.89),while the lowest values were recorded under ALKW_(2)(0.06–0.18).Neutralized alkali waters,ALKW_(2)+SA and ALKW2+GYP,signifcantly improved SMAI with corresponding values of 0.25–0.35 and 0.13–0.32,respectively.SMAI across all stages correlated positively(R^(2)=0.91–0.98)with rice yield.Microbial activity varied with the crop growth stage,peaking at tillering.Gypsum application alone,aimed at neutralizing alkalinity from an RSC of 10 to 5 me L^(-1),proved insufcient in bringing the SMAI up to the ALKW1(RSC level of 5 me L^(-1)).Conclusions The application of dilute sulfuric acid demonstrated better results in restoring the soil microbial activity index than gypsum amendment;however,sulfuric acid treatment depends on native calcium carbonate(CaCO_(3))dissolution for its efectiveness.It may not sufce for soil stability improvement in the long term,especially when native CaCO_(3)is low.Therefore,integrating gypsum and dilute sulfuric acid for RSC neutralization is worthwhile;however,further assessment is needed to confrm their combined impact on soil biochemical and physical properties.
