Current Science

Anup Das ¹, R. K. Singh ¹, G. I. Ramkrushna ¹, Jayanta Layek ¹, A. K. Tripathi ¹, S. V. Ngachan ¹, B. U. Choudhury ¹, D. P. Patel ², D. J. Rajkhowa ¹, Debasish Chakroborty ¹, P. K. Ghosh ³

Affiliations
1 ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam 793 103, IN
2 ICAR-National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management, Baramati 413 115, IN
3 ICAR-Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi 284 003, IN

Abstract

The north eastern region (NER) of India receives bountiful rains (>2000 mm) annually. However, there is extreme water scarcity during post- and premonsoon season (November-March). In such a situation, roof water harvesting (RWH) holds promise for multiple livelihood opportunities. RWH unit with polyfilm lined water collection tank of 37 m³ storage capacity (i.e. 5.5 x 4.5 x 1.5 m³) was demonstrated at 11 farmers fields mostly on hill tops in the Ri-Bhoi district (Meghalaya). The average demonstration area was 500 m²/farmer in the vicinity of homesteads (kitchen gardens). Volume of water harvested in a collection tank was about 53 m³ including about 16 m³ harvested during dry season due to seasonal replenishment. The cost of water harvesting was estimated at about Rs 144 and Rs 119/m³ considering lifespan of five and ten years respectively. Farmers used harvested water for diversified activities such as raising crops [maize, broccoli, French bean, laipatta (Brassica juncea), tomato, etc.] and livestock (pig or poultry) in addition to domestic use. The farmers without RWH could use land only during rainy season for crop cultivation. On an average, the net income from each RWH based model (500 m² demonstration area) was Rs 14,910 for crop + piggery and Rs 11,410 for crop + poultry farming which was 261 and 176% higher, respectively than the normal farmers' practice. Similarly, employment and water use efficiency enhanced by 221 and 586%; and 168 and 218% under crop + piggery and crop + poultry based farming respectively.

Keywords

Jalkund, Multiple Use of Water, NER Hills, Rain Water Harvesting, Silpaulin.

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S. S. Roy ¹, M. A. Ansari ¹, S. K. Sharma ¹, B. Sailo ¹, Ch. Basudha Devi ¹, I. M. Singh ¹, Anup Das ¹, D. Chakraborty ², A. Arunachalam ³, N. Prakash ¹, S. V. Ngachan ²

Affiliations
1 ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Manipur Centre, Imphal 795 004, IN
2 ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam 793 103, IN
3 Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi 110 012, IN

Abstract

Manipur in India is endowed with rich biodiversity and abundant natural resources. Despite inaccessibility, marginality and heterogeneity, the state has made good progress in agriculture and allied sectors. About 80% of the state population depends on agriculture for livelihood. However, agriculture sector in Manipur is facing the consequences of climate change. Climate change is a reality and an increasing trend in temperature, precipitation and emission of greenhouse gases has been observed in Manipur. The state is also projected to experience more of extreme rainfall and reduction in crop yields. As subsistence level farming is coupled with prevalent shifting cultivation, the small and marginal farmers will be most affected due to climate change. Hence, there is an urgent need for devising climate proof plan and climate ready policy for climate compatible agricultural development in Manipur. Location-specific climate smart technology baskets need to be devised or introduced and should be demonstrated through participatory approach, for ensuring a climate resilient production system, and a climate resilient ecosystem. The interactions between the system’s adaptation strategies and the mitigation potential should also be given due importance in the action plan for combating climate change. This article deals with the present status of agriculture and allied sector and various technological and policy options for climate resilient agriculture in the hill and mountain ecosystems of Manipur.

Keywords

Climate Smart Agriculture, Climate Change, Northeast India.

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C. S. Jha ¹, Rakesh ¹, J. Singhal ¹, C. S. Reddy ¹, G. Rajashekar ¹, S. Maity ², C. Patnaik ², Anup Das ², Arundhati Misra ², C. P. Singh ², Jakesh Mohapatra ², N. S. R. Krishnayya ³, Sandhya Kiran ³, Phil Townsend ⁴, Margarita Huesca Martinez ⁵

Affiliations
1 National Remote Sensing Centre, Indian Space Research Organisation, Hyderabad 500 037, IN
2 Space Applications Centre, Indian Space Research Organisation, Ahmedabad 380 015, IN
3 MS University of Baroda, Vadodara 390 002, IN
4 University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706, US
5 University of California, Davis 95616, US

Abstract

Species diversity and vegetation health are two critical components to be monitored for sustainable forest management and conservation of biodiversity. The present study characterizes species dominance and α -diversity of a forest for the selected region in Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary (MWS), Western Ghats, which represents one of the most economically important forest types in India – the tropical dry deciduous forest. NASA’s Next-Generation Airborne Visible and Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS-NG) data at spectral resolution of 5 nm and spatial resolution of 5 m were used to analyse the forest matrix. Biodiversity (α -diversity) map thus generated from airborne platform over 14.5 sq. km area mostly represents the forest tree species diversity. Dominant tree species in the study area were also mapped using AVIRIS data for 21.7 sq. km. Canopy emergent dominant species, viz. Anogeissus latifolia, Tectona grandis, Terminalia alata, Grewia tiliifolia, Syzygium cumini and Shorea roxburghii were classified using spectral angle mapper technique and image-based spectra in the MWS study site. The study shows that nearly 40% area is dominated by A. latifolia and 27.5% by T. grandis in the study site. This study concludes that AVIRIS data can be used in the delineation of species and α -diversity mapping at community level; however, the accuracy achieved for species classification is moderate (60%) due to intermixing of species in the study area. For the Shimoga study site in Karnataka, the field spectra were collected using a spectroradiometer and used for the classification for the three dominant tree species using absorption peak decomposition technique. Fieldcollected pure spectra were analysed and species-wise absorption peaks (Gaussian) with central wavelength, peak amplitude and dispersion were used as the endmembers for classification. AVIRIS-NG data over Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary (SWS) study site used for fuel load estimation with narrow band indices calculated from AVIRIS-NG datasets. AVIRIS-NG data for MWS and Shimoga study site were collected during 2 and 5 January 2016, while for SWS site data were collected on 8 February 2016.

Keywords

Airborne Sensors, Forest Health, Hyperspectral Imaging, Species Diversity.

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Deepak Putrevu ¹, Sanjay Trivedi ¹, Anup Das ¹, Dharmendra Pandey ¹, Priyanka Mehrotra ¹, S. K. Garg ¹, Venkata Reddy ¹, Shalini Gangele ¹, Himanshu Patel ¹, Devendra Sharma ¹, R. Sijwali ¹, Nikhil Pandya ¹, Amit Shukla ¹, Gaurav Seth ¹, V. M. Ramanujam ¹, Raj Kumar ¹

Affiliations
1 Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad 380 015, IN

Abstract

Dual-frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) operating in L- and S-band frequencies is one of the primary payloads of the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter. This payload with the capability of imaging in dual frequency (L-band: 24 cm wavelength and S-band: 12 cm wavelength) with full polarimetric mode aims for unambiguous detection, characterization and quantitative estimation of water-ice in permanently shadowed regions over the lunar poles. The payload will address the ambiguities in interpreting high values of circular polarization ratio associated with water-ice observed during previous missions to the Moon through imaging in dual-frequency fully polarimetric SAR mode. Various improved system features such as wide range of resolutions and incidence angles, synchronized Land S-band operations, radiometer mode, are built into the instrument to meet the required science objectives, adhering to stringent mission requirements of low mass, power and data rates. Major scientific objectives of dual-frequency polarimetric SAR payload are: unambiguous detection and quantitative estimation of lunar polar water-ice; estimation of lunar regolith dielectric constant and surface roughness; mapping of lunar geological/morphological features and polar crater floors at high-resolution, and regional- scale mapping of regolith thickness and distribution.

Keywords

Circular Polarization Ratio, Dual Frequency, Lunar Polar Water-ice, Synthetic Aperture Radar.

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