Current Science

A. Yugandhara Rao ¹, K. Vijay Raj ², O. P. Yadav ², L. K. Nanda ³, A. K. Rai ³, P. S. Parihar ³

Affiliations
1 Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research, Vishakapatnam 530 007, IN
2 Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research, Jaipur 302 033, IN
3 Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research, Hyderabad 500 016, IN

Abstract

Magnesium-bearing calcretes of soft-gritty and hard pan varieties containing uranium concentrations from 16 to 74 ppm with <10 ppm of thorium are located along the Saraswati palaeochannel at Khemasar village, Churu district, Rajasthan. The uraniumbearing calcretes are exposed over an areal extent of 300 m × 200 m with thickness of up to 2 m in an interdunal depression. The silty sand layer occurring below the calcrete horizon suggests that it is a valley-fill calcrete, deposited along a palaeochannel. This occurrence of uraniferous Mg-calcrete in the Saraswati river palaeochannel opens up a large area for uranium exploration in the calcrete environment of Thar Desert. These calcretes are composed of 15.94% to 25.39% CaO, 7.15% to 22.39% MgO and Sr/Ba ratio up to 66.98. There is a positive correlation of U with Sr/Ba and MgO. The high Sr/Ba ratio and MgO indicate water of saline nature and high rate of evaporation. Ephemeral centripetal drainage mixing with the dissected palaeochannel waters and groundwaters, under arid climatic conditions might have resulted in the formation of this kind of uranium-bearing calcrete in fluvio-lacustrine environment.

Keywords

Fluvio-Lacustrine Environment, Khemasar, Magnesian Calcrete, Surficial Type Uranium.

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O. P. Yadav ¹, D. V. Singh ¹, B. S. Dhillon ², T. Mohapatra ³

Affiliations
1 ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur 342 003, IN
2 Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141 004, IN
3 Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi 110 014, IN

Abstract

The term ‘Green Revolution’ (GR) is used to highlight an unprecedented increase in wheat production in India during 1968–72. The critics of GR allege that there is technology fatigue, especially after 1980s. The present study was undertaken to analyse the trends in productivity of major cereals and compare yield gains during the GR era and post-GR era. The period of 68 years since 1950 was divided in four phases: pre-GR era (1950–66) referred to as phase I, GR era (1967–83) as phase II, post-GR era of 1984–2000 as phase III and post-GR era of 2001–17 as phase IV. The annual rate of gain in productivity (kg/ha/yr) in each phase was estimated by linear regression. The annual gain in wheat productivity in phase III (53.1 kg/ha) was 30% higher than that in the GR era (41.0 kg/ha). In rice, the productivity gains increased consistently: annual gain in phase III (32.3 kg/ha) and phase IV (41.6 kg/ha) was 68% to 117% respectively, higher than that in the GR era (19.2 kg/ha). The rate of gain in productivity of maize and pearl millet in phases III and IV was 188–530% higher in comparison to the GR phase. The progress can largely be attributed to development and adoption of improved cultivars with higher yield potential and crop management technologies. The analysis provided conclusive evidence of India experiencing evergreen revolution in major cereals.

Keywords

Cereals, Crop Productivity, Green Revolution, Improved Cultivars.

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