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S. Krishnaswami , V. M. Srinivasan , R. S. Vinaya Rai

Abstract

Studies were carried out at the Forestry Research Station. Mettupalayam to assess the variation in growth components at 6 and 12 months after planting and growth increment in progenies of eight plus trees of E. tereticornis of Arakku Valley, Andhra Pradesh. Saplings of hulked seed served as control. The genetic parameters of growth components in relation to age were also determinted. Though no progeny proved superior to the bulk population in respect of any of the growth attribute investigated, in terms of diameter increment, Those of T₄ T₆ and T₇ scored over others. Heritability of plant height and base diameter did not vary with age. Base diameter was characterised by high heritabllity and low GA suggesting the high heritability to be due to non-additive genes.

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S. Krishnaswami , V. M. Srinivasan , R. S. Yinaya Raj

Abstract

The association, if any, of capsule weight on seedling vigour was studied in EucalyptuIs ereticornis. Capsules were graded on the basis of their 100 capsule fresh weight into five ategories viz. 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 g and their seeds sown in a replicated randomised trial. Neither germination percentage nor seedling attributes like shoot length, ischolar_main length or eedling dry weight varied due to capsule weight.

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C. P. Malhotra , S. Krishnaswami

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No abstract

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S. Krishnaswami , B. K. Purkayastha , N. S. Chauhan

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No abstract

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S. Krishnaswami , C. P. Malhotra

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No abstract

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S. Krishnaswami , D. R. Saikia

Abstract

Assam which has been known as a centre of lac production since very early days, differs from the rest of the country in many respects in regard to lac cultivation. High precipitation received in the region, distributed over 8 to 9 months in the year has made it possible to exploit crop and shrub type host plants such as arhar (Cajanus cajan) and Leea species for successful lac cultivation. Published information on the state of lac cultivation in Assam, the use of arhar, Grewia, Leea and other uncommon species of plants as lac hosts, and the various cultivation practices in vogue in the state is very meagre and in this article a detailed account on the above aspects has been given based on a recent study and enquiry made in the state.

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S. Krishnaswami , B. K. Purkayastha , N. Majumdar

Abstract

Crop yields depend on the timely use of proper quantity of broodlac, and its proper distribution on the branches of the trees. Investigations were undertaken to determine the optimum requirement of broodlac for inoculations of kusum for both the Jethwi and Aghani crops and the present paper r~ports the results of investigations carried out for four years. Four brood rates, so as to give lat'val settlement on twigs over about 6-7, 12-13, 25 and SO times the length of brood sticks used for inoculation, were compared. The following observations could be made : (1) density of larval settlement increased with the brood rate used but not in direct proportion, (ii) the percentage of larval mortality was inversely proportional to the density of settlement indicating that certain minimum density is essential, (iii) there was a tendency towards higher percentage of males as the brood rates were increased, (iv) the yield per tree in both Jethwi and Aghani seasons increased with the increase in the quantity of brood used but not in same proportion as the brood rate. Yet it is more profitable to use more brood per tree on fewer trees than to use less brood per tree on a larger number of trees, because the slightly increased total yield obtained in the latter case will not adequately compensate for the much increased costs of operation with a larger number of trees. Further heavier brood rates within reasonable limits ensure better success of lac crops particularly in adverse seasons, (v) brood rate for crop inoculations should be such that it gives larval settlement on shoots nearly 10 times the length of broodlac sticks used for the Jethwi and 8 times the length of brood sticks used in the case of the Aghani crop.

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R. S. Gokulpure , B. P. Mehra , S. Krishnaswami , T. P. S. Teotia , B. N. Sah

Abstract

Pruning aims at producing maximum number of suitable shoots and is one of the chief factors responsible for the survival of the lac insects and the ultimate crop yield. Systematic trials on lac cultivation on ghont in Madhya Pradesh were carried out for the first time. Results indicate that pruning for Baisakhi crop (October/November to June/July) should be carried out in April of the same year to allow six months' time and for Katki crop (June/July to October/November) in May of the previous year to allow thirteen months' time for the development of maximum number of suitable shoots after pruning.

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A. H. Naqvi , B. P. Misra , S. Krishnaswami , B. N. Sah

Abstract

The response of ghant (Zizyphus Xylopyra Willd.) to pruning and lac cultivation was studied at Namkum. Although it was possible to get these trees to hear lac crops, unlike attempts by previous workers, the crops were very poor and discouraging and hence cannot be used fdr growing lac on a commercial scale in Bihar.

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M. Baskaran ¹, S. Krishnaswami ¹, N. Bhandari ¹

Affiliations
1 Physical Research Laboratory, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad 380 009, IN

Abstract

The concentrations of ²³⁸U, ²³⁴Th and (²³⁴U²³⁸U) activity ratios and major ion chemistry of several water samples from the salt lakes and their adjacent ground waters in Rajasthan have been measured. ²³⁴Th concentration in all the samples, except in one high alkalinity water from the Sambhar Lake, are quite deficient relative to its parent ²³⁸U the average (²³⁴Th/²³⁸U)activity ratio being 0.12. This deficiency corresponds to a mean residence time of - 5 days for ²³⁴Th in these waters. In the high alkalinity water, ²³⁴Th concentration is at near equilibrium with ²³⁸U, yielding a residence time much longer than radioactive mean life. The long residence time of Th in high alkalinity waters may result from the complexing of ²³⁴Th by (CO₃)^-2 ion. ²³⁸U concentration in some of the ground waters near the salt Iakes are high, the highest being in a Didwana sample, 565 dpm/l, The Didwana samples also have the highest (²³⁴U²³⁸U) activity ratios observed for Indian waters. The high uranium concentration in the Didwana ground water is suggestive of uranium rich aquifer solids.

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D. N. Yadav ¹, M. M. Sarin ², S. Krishnaswami ²

Affiliations
1 Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai - 400085, IN
2 Physical Research Laboratory, Earth Science Division, Ahmedabad - 380 009, IN

Abstract

Geochemical analysis of groundwater samples and brines from the Sambhar Salt lake shows a predominance of NaCl with respect to total salt content (TDS), which varies from 0.5 to -400 g/L. All brine (lake + shallow subsurface) samples indicate a Na-Cl type alkaline solutions with pH varying from 8.5 to 10. All this suggests a general provenance for halite or dissolution of desiccated salt minerals in the catchment and drainage areas of the lake. Adjacent groundwaters are mostly neutral Na-Cl type with TDS ranging from 0.5 to 13 g/L. In contrast to groundwaters, the river waters from Roopangarh and Mendha reflect that out of the TDS, the major ions constitute Na, Alk and Cl with an average equivalent Na/Cl ratio of 2.7, indicating dissolution of Na from silicate weathering of rocks. However, the lake water composition overwhelms the river water upon mixing during the recharge period. A complete annual wetting and drying cycles of evolution of lake brine shows generation of Na-Cl type of brine with steady increase in major ions except Ca and Mg ions which decrease in successive stages of evaporation. Relative change in Na and Cl ions is also observed during the late stage of evaporation at or beyond halite saturation stage. Observation of such chemical change in brine composition is in line with the identification of salt minerals in lake sediments and salt encrustation by XRD technique.

In present-day hydrologic set-up, the estimated salt inventory in lake is _10⁶ tons as compared to riverine input of 6x10⁴ tons and an upper limit of aeolian input of about 5xl0⁴ tons. Such an estimate indicates that majority of salt is derived from the recycling and re-solution of salt encrustation from the lake bed during recharge period.

Keywords

Hydrogeochemistry, TDS, Nacl, Brines, Annual Wetting and Drying Cycles, Evaporation, Brine Evolution, Salt Encrustation, Aeolian Salt Input, Recharge Period, Sambhar Salt Lake, Rajasthan.

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