Current Science

S. K. Singh ¹, A. S. Rajawat ¹, B. P. Rathore ¹, I. M. Bahuguna ¹, M. Chakraborty ¹

Affiliations
1 Geo Science and Applications Group, Space Applications Centre (ISRO), Ahmedabad 380 015, IN

Abstract

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) signals penetrate through the dry snow and cloud providing crucial data over the Himalayan temperate glaciers and complement the optical images. In the present study, RISAT-1 C band and AWiFS images of winter/ablation period over Samudra Tapu and Gepang Gath moraine dammed lakes (MDLs) in Himachal Pradesh have been analysed. Backscattering coefficient of the lake was observed to be low throughout the year. Penetration depth of SAR into dry snowpack was calculated to vary from 4 to 22 m for a range of snow density (0.1-0.5 g/cm³), whereas it was estimated to be 1.20- 2.01 m based on ground observations for 30 January and 24 February 2013. The present study provides results of RISAT-1 C-band penetration up to ~2 m through the snowpack to detect MDLs in the Himalayan terrain. The detection of MDLs using the backscattering images of winter season was validated with synchronous AWiFS sensor images.

Keywords

Backscattering Coefficient, Glacier Lakes, Snow and Cloud, Synthetic Aperature Radar.

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B. P. Rathore ¹, S. K. Singh ¹, Rupal Brahmbhatt ², I. M. Bahuguna ¹, A. S. Rajawat ¹, Ajai ¹

Affiliations
1 Space Applications Centre (ISRO), Ahmedabad 380 015, IN
2 M. G. Science Institute, Ahmedabad 380 009, IN

Abstract

Monitoring of lakes in glaciated terrain in the Himalayan region has been recognized as one of the priority areas especially after the Kedarnath disaster. Among all types of glacial lakes, moraine dammed lakes (MDLs) are the most important from disaster point of view. Remote sensing plays a significant role in view of availability of unbiased repeated data on the expansion or contraction of MDLs located in rugged terrains of the Himalaya. Monitoring of two MDLs, associated with Katkar and Gepang-gath glaciers in Zanskar and Chandra sub-basins respectively was done using satellite images of 1965, 1976, 1989, 2001, 2006-07, 2012 and 2014. Survey of India (SOI) topographical maps of 1962 were also referred to monitor the respective glaciers lakes. SOI maps show the presence of only one lake associated with Gepang-gath glacier. Areal extent of the MDLs had increased from 21 to 57 ha between 1965 and 2014, and from 27 to 80 ha between 1962 and 2014 for the Katkar and Gepang-gath glaciers respectively. Increase in peak discharge of the two lakes was also estimated using different empirical models in case of outbursts of these lakes. The lake outburst probability for both these lakes was found to be very low (less than 1%), however, possibility of outburst of lakes due to natural calamity like cloud burst, landslide or earthquake cannot be ignored. The rate of retreat of these two glaciers was observed to be high due to the presence of MDLs in comparison to surrounding glaciers in the valley.

Keywords

Glacier, Moraine Dammed Lake, Peak Discharge, Retreat.

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H. S. Negi ¹, Chander Shekhar ¹, S. K. Singh ²

Affiliations
1 Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment, Him Parisar, Sector-37A, Chandigarh 160 036, IN
2 Space Applications Centre, ISRO, Ahmedabad 380 015, IN

Abstract

This article presents highlights of the research work done in hyperspectral remote sensing in the Himalayan cryosphere. Hyperspectral radiometric investigations conducted at different field locations of NW Himalaya and cold laboratory are discussed. Spectral signatures were collected for varying snow grain size, contamination, liquid water content, vegetation/soilmixed snow, glacier ice, moraines and other ambient objects. The important wavelengths for snow applications are found to be 440, 550, 590, 660, 860, 1050, 1240 and 1650 nm. Further, the retrieval of snow parameters such as grain size, spectral albedo and snow contamination using imaging data at the above wavelength channels is discussed. Wavelengths 550, 1240 and 1660 nm are found to be useful for discriminating different glacier features. Limitations in hyperspectral remote sensing such as availability of imaging data, rugged topography and further research issues such as multi-sensor mapping and data fusion, multiangle measurements, 3D adjacency effect and improved algorithms for quantitative retrieval of contaminants are identified.

Keywords

Albedo, Hyperspectral, Hyperion, Reflectance, Snow Cover Monitoring, Spectroradiometer.

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M. Prasad ¹, H. Singh ¹, S. K. Singh ¹

Affiliations
1 Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow 226 007, IN

Abstract

The family Annonaceae has Gondwanan affinity and is being reported from the Cambay Shale of Vastan Lignite Mine on the basis of well-preserved fruit (in counterpart), leaf and pollen grains. This finding is significant because it serves as yet another example of an angiosperm family found in South America and Africa that may have boarded the Indian raft when India was attached to Madagascar, reported on the basis of pollen from Kutch. The Vastan occurrences represent a continuous record from the Indian latest Cretaceous, through the Palaeocene, based on multiple vegetative entities. The well-preserved fruit is morphologically similar to Annona palustris L. At present the dispersal history of the family into India represents an origin in the Lower Cretaceous of North America with later dispersal to South America and Africa and then onto India, as it is recorded from the sedimentary beds associated with the Deccan Volcanics. Another angiosperm family, Dipterocarpaceae, is also found in Vastan, with a similar phytogeographic distribution.

Keywords

Annona, Fossil Leaf, Fruit and Pollen, Lignite Mine, Phytogeography.

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Rajendra Hegde ¹, A. Natarajan ¹, R. S. Meena ², K. V. Niranjana ¹, S. Thayalan ¹, S. K. Singh ³

Affiliations
1 National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (ICAR), Hebbal, Bengaluru 560 024, IN
2 National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (ICAR), Udaipur, Rajastan 313 001, IN
3 National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (ICAR), Amravathi Road, Nagpur 440 033, IN

Abstract

Of late, the crop productivity levels in many irrigated command areas have plateaued or started declining rapidly due to the deterioration of soil health. Unscientific and excessive irrigation, growing crops not compatible with the soils and unscientific management of soils are the main causes for the present situation. Waterlogging, increased salinity/sodicity, nutrient imbalance, shrinking diversity of micro-flora and fauna have become major constraints limiting the choice of crop and crop productivity. We present a study on this issue from the Cauvery command area. Detailed cadastral-level survey taken up to study the status of soil and other resources occurring in Chikkarasinakere block of Mandya district, Karnataka during 2010 has brought out the alarming state of land degradation observed in the area. Nearly 59% of the area is suffering from various degrees of chemical and physical degradation. The situation becomes alarming because the area had well-drained red soils highly suitable for irrigated agriculture when irrigation was introduced during 1930s. The process of degradation will accelerate if appropriate interventions/investments are not undertaken on priority. Continuation of present management practices can rapidly damage the soil health. As the command area is one of the important rice bowls of Karnataka, there is an urgent need to reverse the process of degradation by adopting site-specific interventions as indicated in the study. The present study reveals that the Cauvery command are in Karnataka is losing Rs 1000 crores every year due to this problem.

Keywords

Crop Productivity, Irrigated Command Area, Nutrient Imbalance, Land Degradation, Soil Salinity/Alkalinity.

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K. Velmourougane ¹, M. V. Venugopalan ¹, T. Bhattacharyya ², D. Sarkar ², S. K. Ray ², P. Chandran ², D. K. Pal ³, D. K. Mandal ², J. Prasad ², G. S. Sidhu ⁴, K. M. Nair ⁵, A. K. Sahoo ⁶, K. S. Anil Kumar ⁵, A. Srivastava ⁷, T. H. Das ⁶, R. S. Singh ⁸, C. Mandal ², R. Srivastava ², T. K. Sen ², S. Chatterji ², N. G. Patil ², G. P. Obireddy ², S. K. Mahapatra ⁴, K. Das ⁶, S. K. Singh ⁶, S. K. Reza ⁹, D. Dutta ⁶, S. Srinivas ⁵, P. Tiwary ², K. Karthikeyan ², Mausumi Raychaudhuri ¹⁰, D. K. Kundu ¹⁰, K. G. Mandal ¹⁰, G. Kar ¹⁰, S. L. Durge ², G. K. Kamble ², M. S. Gaikwad ², A. M. Nimkar ², S. V. Bobade ², S. G. Anantwar ², S. Patil ², M. S. Gaikwad ², V. T. Sahu ², H. Bhondwe ², S. S. Dohtre ², S. Gharami ², S. G. Khapekar ², A. Koyal ⁵, Sujatha ⁵, B. M. N. Reddy ⁵, P. Sreekumar ⁵, D. P. Dutta ⁹, L. Gogoi ⁹, V. N. Parhad ², A. S. Halder ⁶, R. Basu ⁶, R. Singh ⁸, B. L. Jat ⁸, D. L. Oad ⁸, N. R. Ola ⁸, A. Sahu ², K. Wadhai ², M. Lokhande ², V. T. Dongare ², A. Hukare ², N. Bansod ², A. Kolhe ², J. Khuspure ², H. Kuchankar ², D. Balbuddhe ², S. Sheikh ², B. P. Sunitha ⁵, B. Mohanty ⁴, D. Hazarika ⁹, S. Majumdar ⁶, R. S. Garhwal ⁸, S. Mahapatra ¹⁰, S. Puspamitra ¹⁰, A. Kumar ⁷, N. Gautam ², B. A. Telpande ², A. M. Nimje ², C. Likhar ², S. Thakre ²

Affiliations
1 Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur 440 010, IN
2 Regional Centre, National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Nagpur 440 033, IN
3 International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Patancheru 502 324, IN
4 Regional Centre, National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, New Delhi 110 012, IN
5 Regional Centre, National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Bangalore 560 024, IN
6 Regional Centre, National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Kolkata 700 091, IN
7 National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Microorganisms, Mau 275 101, IN
8 Regional Centre, National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Udaipur 313 001, IN
9 Regional Centre, National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Jorhat 785 004, IN
10 Directorate of Water Management, Bhubaneswar 751 023, IN

Abstract

The present study documents the biological properties of the black soil region (BSR) of India in terms of culturable microbial population. Besides surface microbial population, subsurface population of individual soil horizons is described to improve the soil information system. An effort has been made to study the depth-wise distribution and factors (bioclimates, cropping systems, land use, management practices and soil properties) influencing the microbial population in the soils of the selected benchmark spots representing different agro-ecological sub-regions of BSR. The microbial population declined with depth and maximum activity was recorded within 0-30 cm soil depth. The average microbial population (log₁₀ cfu g^-1) in different bioclimates is in decreasing order of SHm > SHd > Sad > arid. Within cropping systems, legumebased system recorded higher microbial population (6.12 log₁₀ cfu g^-1) followed by cereal-based system (6.09 log₁₀ cfu g^-1). The mean microbial population in different cropping systems in decreasing order is legume > cereal > sugarcane > cotton. Significantly higher (P < 0.05) microbial population has been recorded in high management (6.20 log₁₀ cfu g^-1) and irrigated agrosystems (6.33 log₁₀ cfu g^-1) compared to low management (6.12 log₁₀ cfu g^-1) and rainfed agrosystems (6.17 log₁₀ cfu g^-1). The pooled analysis of data inclusive of bioclimates, cropping systems, land use, management practices, and edaphic factors indicates that microbial population is positively influenced by clay, fine clay, water content, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, cation exchange capacity and base saturation, whereas bulk density, pH, calcium carbonate and exchangeable magnesium percentage have a negative effect on the microbial population.

Keywords

Agro-Ecological Sub-Regions, Benchmark Spots, Black Soil Regions, Principal Component Analysis, Soil Microbial Population.

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M. V. Venugopalan ¹, P. Tiwary ², S. K. Ray ², S. Chatterji ², K. Velmourougane ¹, T. Bhattacharyya ², K. K. Bandhopadhyay ³, D. Sarkar ², P. Chandran ², D. K. Pal ⁴, D. K. Mandal ², J. Prasad ², G. S. Sidhu ⁵, K. M. Nair ⁶, A. K. Sahoo ⁷, K. S. Anil Kumar ⁶, A. Srivastava ⁸, T. H. Das ⁷, R. S. Singh ⁹, C. Mandal ², R. Srivastava ², T. K. Sen ², N. G. Patil ², G. P. Obireddy ², S. K. Mahapatra ⁵, K. Das ⁷, S. K. Singh ⁷, S. K. Reza ¹⁰, D. Dutta ⁷, S. Srinivas ⁶, K. Karthikeyan ², Mausumi Raychaudhuri ¹¹, D. K. Kundu ¹¹, K. K. Mandal ¹¹, G. Kar ¹¹, S. L. Durge ², G. K. Kamble ², M. S. Gaikwad ², A. M. Nimkar ², S. V. Bobade ², S. G. Anantwar ², S. Patil ¹², M. S. Gaikwad ², V. T. Sahu ², H. Bhondwe ², S. S. Dohtre ², S. Gharami ², S. G. Khapekar ², A. Koyal ⁶, Sujatha ⁶, B. M. N. Reddy ⁶, P. Sreekumar ⁶, D. P. Dutta ¹⁰, L. Gogoi ¹⁰, V. N. Parhad ², A. S. Halder ¹³, R. Basu ⁷, R. Singh ⁹, B. L. Jat ⁹, D. L. Oad ⁹, N. R. Ola ⁹, A. Sahu ¹, K. Wadhai ², M. Lokhande ², V. T. Dongare ², A. Hukare ², N. Bansod ², A. Kolhe ², J. Khuspure ², H. Kuchankar ², D. Balbuddhe ², S. Sheikh ², B. P. Sunitha ⁶, B. Mohanty ⁵, D. Hazarika ¹⁰, S. Majumdar ⁷, R. S. Garhwal ⁹, S. Mahapatra ¹¹, S. Puspamitra ¹¹, A. Kumar ⁸, N. Gautam ², B. A. Telpande ², A. M. Nimje ², C. Likhar ², S. Thakre ²

Affiliations
1 Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur 440 010, IN
2 Regional Centre, National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Nagpur 440 033, IN
3 Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, IN
4 International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Patancheru 502 324, IN
5 Regional Centre, National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, New Delhi 110 012, IN
6 Regional Centre, National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Bangalore 560 024, IN
7 Regional Centre, National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Kolkata 700 091, IN
8 National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Microorganisms, Mau 275 103, IN
9 Regional Centre, National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Udaipur 313 001, IN
10 Regional Centre, National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Jorhat 785 004, IN
11 Directorate of Water Management, Bhubaneswar 751 023, IN
12 Regional Centre, National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Nagpur 440 033
13 Regional Centre, National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Kolkata 700 091

Abstract

Crop simulation models have emerged as powerful tools for estimating yield gaps, forecasting production of agricultural crops and analysing the impact of climate change. In this study, the genetic coefficients for Bt hybrids established from field experiments were used in the InfoCrop-cotton model, which was calibrated and validated earlier to simulate the cotton production under different agro-climatic conditions. The model simulated results for Bt hybrids were satisfactory with an R² value of 0.55 (n = 22), d value of 0.85 and a ischolar_main mean square error of 277 kg ha^-1, which was 11.2% of the mean observed. Relative yield index (RYI) defined as the ratio between simulated rainfed (water-limited) yield to potential yield, was identified as a robust land quality index for rainfed cotton. RYI was derived for 16 representative benchmark (BM) locations of the black soil region from long-term simulation results of InfoCrop-cotton model (based on 11-40 years of weather data). The model could satisfactorily capture subtle differences in soil variables and weather patterns prevalent in the BM locations spread over 16 agro-ecological sub-regions (AESRs) resulting in a wide range of mean simulated rainfed cotton yields (482-4393 kg ha^-1). The BM soils were ranked for their suitability for cotton cultivation based on RYI. The RYI of black soils (vertisols) ranged from 0.07 in Nimone to 0.80 in Panjari representing AESR (6.1) and AESR (10.2) respectively, suggesting that Panjri soils are better suited for rainfed cotton.

Keywords

Bt Cotton, Land Quality, Relative Yield Index, Simulation Model.

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B. P. Rathore ¹, S. K. Singh ¹, I. M. Bahuguna ¹, R. M. Brahmbhatt ², A. S. Rajawat ¹, A. Thapliyal ³, A. Panwar ³, Ajai ¹

Affiliations
1 Space Applications Centre (ISRO), Ahmedabad 380 015, IN
2 M.G. Science Institute, Ahmedabad 380 009, IN
3 Uttarakhand Space Application Centre, Dehradun 248 006, IN

Abstract

Advance wide field sensor (AWiFS) data of RESOURCESAT-1 and 2 satellites of IRS series were used to produce snow cover products at 10-day interval from 2004 to 2012 covering October to June of consecutive years for Alaknanda, Bhagirathi and Yamuna sub-basins of Ganga basin in the Himalayan region. The snow products were generated using Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI) at a spatial resolution of 56 m using green (B2) and SWIR (B5) channels of AWiFS sensor. Minimum and maximum snow cover was found to be 998, 669, 141 sq. km, and 7874, 5876, 3068 sq. km for Alaknanda, Bhagirathi and Yamuna sub-basins respectively. The areal extent of snow was higher than the mean during the years 2004-2005, 2007-2008 and 2011-2012 for all sub-basins. Mean of monthly fluctuations between maximum and minimum snow cover were recorded as 3105, 2305, 1235 sq. km corresponding to variation in snow line altitude of 1613, 1770, 1440 m respectively. A subtle increase in the snow cover has been observed in these three sub-basins during 2004-2012. The results matched well with the variations in temperature taken from nearby ground weather stations. Snow cover products were analysed to understand spatio-temporal variability of accumulation and ablation of snow in the three sub-basins. Monthly fluctuations in snow cover were high during accumulation period than in ablation. This work also attributes in generation of long-term database which will be useful for understanding climatic variations over Himalayan region.

Keywords

Ablation, AWiFS, Ganga, NDSI, Snow Cover.

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S. K. Singh ¹, Rajat Saxena ¹, Akhilesh Porwal ¹, Neetu ¹, S. S. Ray ¹

Affiliations
1 Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers’ Welfare, Pusa Campus, New Delhi 110 012, IN

Abstract

Heavy rainfall and hailstorm events occurred in major wheat-growing areas of India during February and March 2015 causing large-scale damages to the crop. An attempt was made to assess the impact of hailstorms in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh (UP), Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh (MP) using remote sensing data. Multi-year remote sensing data from Resourcesat 2 AWiFS was used for the purpose. Wheat crop map, generated by the operational FASAL project, was used in the study. Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) deviation images were generated from the NDVI images of a similar period in 2014 and 2015. This was combined with the gridded data of cumulative rainfall during the period. The logical modelling approach was used for damage classification into normal, mild, moderate and severe. It was found that the northern and southern districts in Haryana were severely affected due to rainfall/ hailstorm. Eastern Rajasthan and western MP were also highly affected. Western UP was mildly affected. Crop cutting experiments (CCE) were carried out in two districts of MP. The CCE data showed that the affected fields had 7% lower yield than the unaffected fields. Empirical yield model was developed between wheat yield and NDVI using CCE data. This model was used to compute the loss in state-level wheat production. This showed that there was a reduction of 8.4% in national wheat production. The production loss estimated through this method matched with the Government estimates.

Keywords

Crop Cutting Experiments, Hailstorm, Rainfall, Remote Sensing, Wheat.

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B. P. Rathore ¹, I. M. Bahuguna ¹, S. K. Singh ¹, R. M. Brahmbhatt ², S. S. Randhawa ³, P. Jani ⁴, S. K. S. Yadav ⁵, A. S. Rajawat ¹

Affiliations
1 Space Applications Centre (ISRO), Ahmedabad 380 015, IN
2 M. G. Science Institute, Ahmedabad 380 009, IN
3 State Centre on Climate Change, SCSTE, Shimla 171 009, IN
4 CEPT University, Ahmedabad 380 009, IN
5 Remote Sensing Applications Centre, Lucknow 226 021, IN

Abstract

The extent of snow cover on the earth is considered an important parameter for numerous climatological and hydrological applications. Snow cover dynamics in mountainous regions is a vital input for energy balance, glacier mass balance, climate change and snowmelt runoff modelling. There have been global efforts for monitoring of snow cover of earth at varying spatial and temporal scales by generation of snow products. Among these, one of the high temporal and spatial resolution datasets has been generated using advanced wide field sensor data for Western and West-Central Himalayan region at the Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad. This is done using an algorithm developed based on normalized difference snow index. This paper discusses the trends of snow cover from 2004 to 2014 based on an input of approximately 12,600 snow cover products at sub-basin scale in Indus, Chenab, Satluj and Ganga basins. Analysis of snow cover shows high variability during accumulation than in ablation period. A subtle increase in snow cover was observed in all basins during 2004–2014.

Keywords

Ablation, Accumulation, AWiFS, Snow Cover, NDSI, Western and West-Central Himalaya.

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Shelton Padua ¹, T. Chattopadhyay ², S. Bandyopadhyay ², S. Ramchandran ³, R. K. Jena ³, P. Ray ³, P. Deb Roy ³, U. Baruah ³, K. D. Sah ³, S. K. Singh ⁴, S. K. Ray ³

Affiliations
1 ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi 682 018, IN
2 ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Regional Centre, Kolkata 700 091, IN
3 ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Regional Centre, Jorhat 785 004, IN
4 ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Amravati Road, Nagpur 440 033, IN

Abstract

Soil fertility has direct implications on the agricultural production scenarios of a region. Surface soil samples at 1 km grid were collected to assess the fertility status of Lakhimpur district (Assam) in North East India. Fertility parameters like soil organic carbon, available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, iron, manganese, zinc and copper were determined using standard analytical procedure. Spatial distribution maps of the soil parameters were generated using regularized spline method in ArcGIS 10.0. The average soil organic carbon content was 1.05% and the maximum area was under high availability status (78%). In the case of nitrogen, 57% of the area was under low availability status. In the case of available potassium and phosphorus, the areas under low availability status were 48% and 49% respectively. But for micronutrients, in general, the availability status was high except for zinc, which indicated that 40% of the area was under low availability. A methodology was developed to integrate the individual nutrient layers using a set of decision rules to identify the multinutrient deficient zones. The integrated map showed that 24% of the area had multiple nutrient deficiencies and fell under high priority zone that warrant immediate nutrient management interventions to mitigate the situation.

Keywords

Decision Rules, Multinutrient Deficiency, Soil Fertility, Spatial Variability, Spline Interpolation, Soil Information System.

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S. K. Mahapatra ¹, G. P. Obi Reddy ², Ritu Nagdev ¹, R. P. Yadav ¹, S. K. Singh ², V. N. Sharda ³

Affiliations
1 ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Regional Centre, IARI Campus, New Delhi 110 012, IN
2 ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Amravati Road, Nagpur 440 033, IN
3 ICAR-Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board, KAB-I, Pusa, New Delhi 110 012, IN

Abstract

In this study, we assess quantitative soil loss in the Himalayan ecosystem of Uttarakhand, India using universal soil loss equation and geographic information system. The analysis shows that about 359,000 (6.71%), 473,000 (8.84%) and 1,750,000 ha (32.72%) area is under moderately severe (15–20 tonne ha^–1 year^–1), severe (20–40 tonne ha^–1 year^–1) and very severe (40–80 tonne ha^–1 year^–1) soil loss respectively. It clearly indicates that about 48.3% area of the state is above the tolerance limit of 11.2 tonne ha^–1 year^–1 of soil loss. This explains the need to undertake appropriate soil and water conservation measures to mitigate the topsoil loss in this fragile Himalayan ecosystem. Based on the degree of severity of soil loss, appropriate soil and water conservation measures need to be adopted on priority basis. The agriculture practices should be diversified with farm-forestry, agro-horticulture and/or agro-forestry to minimize soil loss in cultivated areas of the state. Such conservation programmes help mitigate accelerated soil erosion, restore the fragile ecosystems and generate employment opportunities for the needy.

Keywords

Conservation Measures, Erodibility, Fragile Ecosystems, Geographic Information System, Universal Soil Loss Equation.

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S. Dharumarajan ¹, M. Lalitha ¹, Rajendra Hegde ¹, N. Janani ¹, A. S. Rajawat ², K. L. N. Sastry ², S. K. Singh ³

Affiliations
1 ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Hebbal, Bengaluru - 560 024, IN
2 ISRO-Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad - 380 015, IN
3 ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Amaravati Road, Nagpur - 440 033, IN

Abstract

Desertification is the transformation of productive land into a non-productive one due to poor resource management, and unfavourable biophysical and economical factors. Periodical assessment of desertification status is imperative for a suitable comprehensive and combating plan. In the present study, desertification status maps of Andhra Pradesh (AP), Karnataka and Telangana in South India have been prepared using remote sensing data for two time-frames (2003– 2005 and 2011–2013) and change detection analysis has been carried out. The results reveal that 14.35%, 36.24% and 31.40% of the total geographical area in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana were affected by desertification processes respectively, in 2011–2013. Among the desertification processes, vegetal degradation contributes 7.27% of total area in AP, followed by water erosion (4.93%) and waterlogging (0.83%), whereas in Karnataka water erosion (26.29%) is dominant followed by vegetal degradation (8.93%) and salinization (0.45%). Change detection analysis shows that desertification processes of AP and Karnataka have increased by 0.19% and 0.05% respectively, whereas in Telangana it has decreased by about 0.52% from 2003 to 2005 data. The present database will help the scientists, planners and stakeholders to prepare appropriate land reclamation measures to control the increasing trend of desertification.

Keywords

Change Detection Analysis, Desertification, Salinization, Vegetal Degradation, Waterlogging.

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Rajendra Hegde ¹, K. V. Niranjana ¹, S. Srinivas ¹, B. A. Danorkar ¹, S. K. Singh ²

Affiliations
1 ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, R.C. Bengaluru - 560 024, IN
2 ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Amravati Road, Nagpur - 440 033, IN

Abstract

Land resource inventory for site-specific planning and development of watersheds on scientific basis under Sujala-III project sponsored by the Watershed Development Department of Karnataka and funded by the World Bank is being implemented in 11 districts covering 9.66 lakh ha across 2531 microwatersheds benefiting 7.02 lakh households in the state. The analysis and interpretation of the spatial and non-spatial database generated so far in 1600 microwatersheds covering 5 lakh ha has revealed that most of the watersheds suffer from major problems. In many watersheds, soil erosion and alkalinity affected even up to 75% of the watershed area, thus reducing the production potential and crop choices. The soils are either moderately or highly suited for growing most of the agricultural and horticultural crops. By interfacing land resource data with RS, GIS and GPS, different management scenarios were analysed to arrive at the best management alternatives (optimum land use plans) that would be most suitable. This data handling system will be useful for making land use decisions and providing proactive advice to farmers on a real time basis protecting the health of natural resources.

Keywords

Digital Library, Land Resource Inventory, Land Resources Portal, Land Resource Database Analysis and Interpretaion, Sujala-III Project.

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V. Ramamurthy ¹, S. Chattaraj ², S. K. Singh ², R. P. Yadav ³

Affiliations
1 ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS and LUP), Regional Centre, Bengaluru - 560024, IN
2 ICAR-NBSS and LUP, Amravati Road, Nagpur - 440033, IN
3 ICAR-NBSS and LUP, Regional Centre, New Delhi - 110012, IN

Abstract

Identification and delineation of potential areas for different crops, both at country and state level by using available legacy data assumes importance, in order to preserve and conserve these areas to feed the increasing population and future generations. In this direction, a new integrated approach has been developed to identify potential areas for different crops and the same has been validated. Identifying and delineating commodity specific areas/zones, would help in enhancing the productivity and profitability and framing of land use policies.

Keywords

Potential Areas, Commodity Specific Zones/Areas, Relative Spread Index, Relative Yield Index, Land Use Policy.

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S. K. Singh ¹, Gaurav Jain ¹, Asfa Siddiqui ², Smruti Naik ¹, B. P. Rathore ¹, Vaibhav Garg ², Snehmani ³, Vinay Kumar ², I. M. Bahuguna ¹, S. A. Sharma ¹, Chander Shekhar ³, Praveen K. Thakur ², Kavach Mishra ², Pramod Kumar ², T. H. Painter ⁴, J. Dozier ⁵

Affiliations
1 Space Applications Centre, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Ahmedabad 380 015, IN
2 Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, ISRO, Dehradun 248 001, IN
3 Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment, Chandigarh 160 036, IN
4 University of California, Los Angeles, CA, US
5 University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, US

Abstract

Snow and urban land cover are important due to their role in hydrological management and utility, climate response, social aspects and economic viability, along with influencing the Earth’s environment at local, regional and global scale. Hyperspectral data enable identification, characterization and retrieval of these land-cover features based on physical and chemical properties of compositional materials. AVIRISNG hyperspectral airborne data, with synchronous ground observations using field spectroradiometer and collateral instruments, were collected over two widely varied land-cover types, viz. a relatively homogenous area covered by snow in the extreme cold environment of the Himalaya (Bhaga sub-basin, Himachal Pradesh), and a completely heterogeneous urban area of a metropolitan city (Ahmedabad, Gujarat).

AVIRIS-NG airborne data were analysed to understand the effect of terrain parameters such as slope and aspect on snow reflectance. Snow grain index using visible and near-infrared (VNIR) bands and absorption peak in the near-infrared (NIR) were used to retrieve grain size in parts of the Himalayan region. A radiative transfer model was used to understand the grain size variability and its effect on absorption peak in NIR. Continuum removal was performed for snow spectral observations obtained from airborne, modelled and field platforms to estimate band depth at 1030 nm. Grain size was observed to vary with altitude from 100 to 500 μm using AVIRIS-NG image. In the urban area, the data also separated pervious and impervious surface cover using spectral unmixing technique, identified several urban features over multispectral data such as buildings with red tiled roofs, metallic surfaces and tarpaulin sheets using the material spectral profiles. Two single-frame superresolution methods namely sparse regression and natural prior (SRP), and gradient profile prior (GPP) were applied on AVIRIS-NG data for the mixed environment around Kankaria Lake in the city of Ahmedabad, which revealed that SRP method was better than GPP, and affirmed by eight indices. Preliminary analysis of AVIRIS-NG imaging over snow-covered areas and densely populated cities indicated utility of future spaceborne hyperspectral missions, particularly for hydrological and climatological applications in such diverse environments.

Keywords

AVIRIS-NG, Hyperspectral Imaging, Snow Reflectance, Super-Resolution Method, Terrain Parameters, Urban Land Cover.

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K. M. Nair ¹, K. S. Anil Kumar ¹, M. Lalitha ¹, Shivanand ¹, S. C. Ramesh Kumar ¹, S. Srinivas ¹, Arti Koyal ¹, S. Parvathy ¹, K. Sujatha ¹, C. Thamban ², Jeena Mathew ², K. P. Chandran ², Abdul Haris ², V. Krishnakumar ², V. Srinivasan ³, Jessy ⁴, James Jacob ⁴, J. S. Nagaraj ⁵, Maria Violet D’Souza ⁵, Y. Raghuramulu ⁵, R. Hegde ¹, S. K. Singh ¹

Affiliations
1 Regional Centre, ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Hebbal, Bengaluru 560 024, IN
2 ICAR-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod 671 124, IN
3 ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kozhikode 673 012, IN
4 Rubber Research Institute of India, Kottayam 686 009, IN
5 Coffee Research Institute, Chikmagalur 577 117, IN

Abstract

Natural forests and managed plantations constitute the largest land-use systems in the humid tropics of southwestern parts of Peninsular India comprising the Western Ghats and coastal plain. Soils therein are naturally acidic and the acidity is enhanced in managed land-use systems through inputs of chemical fertilizers. Plant nutrient deficiencies and mineral toxicities constrain crop production in acid soils. Surface soil and subsoil acidity in forest, coffee, rubber and coconut land-use systems was evaluated. The spatial pattern of surface soil and subsoil acidity pointed to low intensity of acidification in Malnad region of Karnataka, moderate acidity in northern Kerala and strong acidity in southern Kerala. Among the land-use systems studied, soils under natural forests and coffee plantations were only slightly acidic in surface soil and subsoil, whereas rubber- and coconut-growing soils were strongly acidic. Both natural and managed land-use systems, however, had strongly acid reaction in surface soil and subsoil in southern Kerala. Biomass production and crop yield are constrained in strongly acid soil by toxic levels of aluminium (Al) on soil exchange complex (>0.5 cmol (+) kg^–1 soil) and depletion of basic cations of calcium, magnesium and potassium (base saturation less than 50% or Al saturation more than 50%). Surface soil acidity can be ameliorated by incorporating liming materials into surface soils. In case of subsoil acidity gypsum too should be incorporated. Under humid climate partial solubility of gypsum permits movement of calcium into the subsoil layers, wherein calcium replaces the aluminium on exchange complex and sulphate radical precipitates the aluminium by formation of aluminium sulphate.

Keywords

Base Saturation, Humid Tropics, Land-Use Systems, Surface Soil and Subsoil Acidity.

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S. Dharumarajan ¹, Rajendra Hegde ¹, M. Lalitha ¹, B. Kalaiselvi ¹, S. K. Singh ²

Affiliations
1 ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Regional Centre, Hebbal, Bengaluru 560 024, IN
2 ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Amaravati Road, Nagpur 440 033, IN

Abstract

Soil hydraulic properties are important for irrigation scheduling and proper land-use planning. Field capacity, permanent wilting point and infiltration rate are the three vital hydraulic properties which determine the availability and retention of water for crop growth. These properties are difficult to measure and time-consuming, but can be easily predicted from the available information like soil texture, bulk density, organic carbon content, etc. through pedotransfer functions (PTFs). PTFs were developed for field capacity and permanent wilting point for two different regions of Karnataka, viz. Northern Karnataka Plateau (512 soil samples) and Southern Karnataka Plateau (228 soil samples), separately. PTF for infiltration rate was developed using 100 soil samples for the entire Karnataka. Cross-validation techniques were used to validate the PTFs, and the results are satisfactory with low RMSE and higher R². The developed PTFs are useful in determining soil hydraulic properties of the semi-arid regions of southern India.

Keywords

Pedotransfer Functions, Field Capacity, Permanent Wilting Point, Infiltration Rate, Semi-Arid Regions.

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S. K. Singh ¹, R. K. Solanki ¹, R. K. Kakani ¹

Affiliations
1 Division of Plant Improvement and Pest Management, Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur 342 003, IN

Abstract

Pearl millet is an important cereal crop grown for grain and fodder in arid and semi-arid regions of India. Pyricularia grisea (teleomorph: Magnaporthe grisea) is known to cause devastating foliar blast disease leading to reduction in grain and fodder yields in pearl millet. Internal transcribed spacer sequencing of ribosomal DNA revealed that the foliar blast of pearl millet in western arid Rajasthan, India, is caused by Pyricularia pennisetigena. Multiple sequence alignment validated that the reference sequence of P. pennisetigena from USA, aligned well with that of our sequence of P. pennisetigena. Phylogram clearly delineated P. grisea and P. penniseticola as phylogenetically separate species of Pyricularia compared to P. pennisetigena. Therefore concerted efforts are needed to develop resistant varieties and hybrids in pearl millet against P. pennisetigena in future plant breeding programmes, particularly for western arid Rajasthan. In addition, isolate CZPMP-17, molecularly identified as Colletotrichum sublioneola isolated from P. glaucum causing foliar disease is shown to be a pathogen of pearl millet.

Keywords

Arid Region, Geographical Diversity, Leaf Diseases, Pearl Millet, Pennisetum glaucum.

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Srinagesh ¹, S. K. Singh ², D. Arroyo ³, D. Srinivas ¹, G. Suresh ⁴, G. Suresh ¹

Affiliations
1 CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute, Uppal Road, Hyderabad 500 007, IN
2 Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Instituto de Geofísica, Circuito de la Investigación s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, Mexico City 04510, MX
3 Departamento de Materiales, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Avenida San Pablo 180, Reynosa Tamaulipas, Azcapotzalco, Mexico City 02200, MX
4 National Centre for Seismology, India, Mausam Bhavan Complex, Lodi Road, New Delhi 110 003, IN

Abstract

A critical element in seismic hazard estimation is the ground motion prediction equation (GMPE) which relates expected seismic intensity at a point from an earthquake of a given magnitude and location. Presently available GMPEs for plate interface thrust earthquakes along the Himalayan arc suffer from limited number of strong motion recordings used in their derivation. In this study we use a larger dataset, including recordings from the 2015 Gorhka, Nepal earthquake (M_w 7.9) and some of its larger aftershocks, to derive GMPE for earthquakes along the Western Himalayan arc. The proposed GMPE should give more reliable estimation of ground motion parameters at hard sites along the arc and in Peninsular India, and at soft sites in the Indo-Gangetic Plains.

Keywords

Active Tectonics, Ground Motion Prediction Equation, Plate Interface Earthquake, Seismic Hazard.

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Bishwa Bhaskar Choudhary ¹, Purushottam Sharma ¹, Mukesh Choudhary ¹, Sunil Kumar ¹, R. P. Dwivedi ², H. S. Mahesha ¹, S. K. Singh ¹, Shantanu Kumar Dubey ³

Affiliations
1 ICAR-Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi 284 003, India, IN
2 ICAR-Central Agroforestry Research Institute, Jhansi 284 003, India, IN
3 ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Kanpur 208 002, India, IN

Abstract

The present study assessed the effect of improved agricultural technologies disseminated under the ambitious Farmer FIRST Programme on production costs of major crops in Bundelkhand region, Uttar Pradesh, India. The findings show that the average real cost during 2017–18 to 2020–21 declined, leading to an increase in the net return to cost ratio from farming. Technological interventions at the farmer’s field resulted in a gradual decline in the share of seed, fertilizer and plant protection chemicals in the cost of cultivation. The price elasticity of factors, estimated by fitting the translog function, suggests that policies for controlling input price inflation, particularly wage rate, will be imperative in reducing the cost of farming. The results on the elasticity of technical substitution between labour and machinery highlight the need for devising suitable farm mechanization strategies which may be affordable in the small farm situation as well. The panel data estimate of negative cost elasticity of yield indicates that productivity growth plays a vital role in absorbing the increase in production cost

Keywords

Agricultural practices, empirical framework, price elasticity, production cost, technological interven-tions.

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