Current Science

Suresh Kumar ¹, A. Raizada ¹, H. Biswas ¹, P. K. Mishra ²

Affiliations
1 ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Research Centre, Bellary 583 104, IN
2 ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Dehradun 248 195, IN

Abstract

The present study is aimed at assessing the impact of watershed development on the energy efficiency in groundnut cultivation. Overall technical, pure technical and scale efficiency increased by 11, 3 and 12% over the pre-watershed scores due to watershed development. Estimated potential for saving input energy was 3608, 3223 and 2907 MJ ha^-1 for marginal, small and large farmers respectively, in groundnut production while maintaining status quo for energy output. Farm size, age of farmer, number of livestock owned and implementation of watershed activities were identified as key determinants for higher overall energy efficiency.

Keywords

Data Envelopment Analysis, Energy Efficiency, Groundnut, Soil and Water Conservation.

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Ashim Jana ¹, B. C. Sarkar ¹, Suresh Kumar ¹, Ajay Kumar ¹, G. S. Yadav ¹, Pramod Kumar ¹

Affiliations
1 Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research, Jamshedpur 831 002, IN

Abstract

India is deficient in both gold and uranium resources. Almost one-third of the annual global mine production of ~2500 tonnes of gold is imported into India to fulfil the high gold consumption. Uranium is important for production of nuclear energy, more specifically to execute the country's ambitious programme to generate 20 GW of electricity by 2020.

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Suresh Kumar ¹, A. Raizada ¹, H. Biswas ¹, A. S. Morade ¹, K. K. Reddy ¹, W. Murlidhar ¹, K. S. Rao ¹

Affiliations
1 ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Research Centre, Bellary 583 104, IN

Abstract

The policy decision to provide free or subsidized electricity has been a key driver for widespread groundwater exploitation in India. Groundwater utilization has immensely enhanced crop productivity and employment generation, which has led to poverty reduction and rural prosperity. To boost rural development in the 1970s, state government, initially began unmetered electricity supply for irrigation, which is still being continued in different states as part of their rural development policy. Policy planners and administrators are now faced with the challenge to design and implement a workable mechanism to manage the evergrowing complexity of groundwater - energy nexus. Groundwater extraction has already surpassed sustainable utilization limits in most parts of India.

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M. Sankar ¹, S. M. Green ², P. K. Mishra ¹, J. T. C. Snoalv ², N. K. Sharma ¹, K. Karthikeyan ³, J. Somasundaram ⁴, D. M. Kadam ¹, D. Dinesh ⁵, Suresh Kumar ⁶, V. Kasthuri Thilagam ⁷

Affiliations
1 ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Dehradun - 248 195, IN
2 College of Life and Environmental Science, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4RJ, GB
3 ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Nagpur - 440 033, IN
4 ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Nabibagh, Bhopal - 462 038, IN
5 ICAR- Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Research Centre, Vasad, Anand - 388 306, IN
6 ISRO-Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, Dehradun - 248 001, IN
7 ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Research Centre, Udhagamandalam - 643 004, IN

Abstract

Soil degradation induced by erosion represents a major threat to food production and ecosystem service globally, and in India more than 80 Mha have been impacted. In the light of the serious threat, there is a pressing need for a systematic nationwide assessment of land degradation due to erosion. We discuss the potential for using caesium-137 and lead-210 tracers to address this need and the next steps to realizing nationwide implementation.

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Surajit Mondal ¹, Amit Kumar Mondal ², Abhishek Sharma ³, Vindhya Devalla ⁴, Sravendra Rana ¹, Suresh Kumar ⁵, Jitendra Kumar Pandey ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Research and Development, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun 248 007, IN
2 Electronics, Instrumentation and Control Engineering, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun 248 007, IN
3 Electronics, Instrumentation and Control Engineering. University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun 248 007, IN
4 Aerospace Engineering, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun 248 007, IN
5 Mechanical Engineering, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun 248 007, IN

Abstract

The energy produced by solar photovoltaic (SPV) modules is directly connected with the solar accessible irradiance, spectral content, different variables like environmental and climatic components. Dust and bird droppings are considered as the real challenges for SPV performance. This article covers dust-related challenges and advanced improvements made on the automated cleaning system, by providing a brief framework on strategies such as mechanical, electrical, chemical and electrostatic. The environmental impact of cleaning processes has also been evaluated, which is directly related to the ultimate performance of overall conversion.

Keywords

Automated Cleaning Process, Dust, Electrodynamic Screening, Particle Removal, Solar Photovoltaics.

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Trisha Roy ¹, Suresh Kumar ¹, Lekh Chand ¹, D. M. Kadam ¹, Bankey Bihari ¹, S. S. Shrimali ¹, Rajesh Bishnoi ¹, U. K. Maurya ¹, Madan Singh ¹, M. Muruganandam ¹, Lakhan Singh ¹, S. K. Sharma ¹, Rakesh Kumar ¹, Anil Mallik ¹

Affiliations
1 ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Dehradun 248 195, IN

Abstract

Farmers in the North West Himalayan region generally practise rainfed agriculture and have very limited scope for irrigation. Water scarcity is a major constraint for crop production in these areas. This problem exacerbates further during the Rabi season where vagaries of winter rain result in complete crop failure. This study was conducted in the Raipur Block of Dehradun district in the farmer’s field to study the impact of hydrogel on yield and productivity of wheat. Hydrogel is a hydrophilic polymer having high water holding capacity and can provide water to crops during moisture stress. Hydrogel was applied in the field in Rabi wheat with two broad treatments, i.e. with hydrogel (WH) and without hydrogel (WHO). Each treatment was replicated ten times, i.e. ten demonstrations were laid out in the field conditions. Hydrogel was applied at the rate of 5 kg ha^–1 and observations related to various plant growth parameters and yield were recorded. The plant population in hydrogel plots increased by 22% compared to the non-hydrogel treated plots. The effective tillers, plant height, ear length and grains per ear significantly improved due to hydrogel application. The total yield as well as grain yield increased significantly after hydrogel amendment. The improved performance of wheat upon hydrogel application was evident in the field. This technology could be promising in terms of productivity improvement of rainfed crops and in combating the moisture stress in agriculture.

Keywords

Hydrogel, Northwest Himalayas, Rainfed Wheat, Yield.

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Suresh Kumar ¹, Girish Kumar Jha ¹, Dharam Raj Singh ¹, H. Biswas ²

Affiliations
1 ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, IN
2 ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Research Centre, Bellary 583 104, IN

Abstract

The present study estimates the social cost of growing paddy, wheat and legumes as Rs 9484, 8804 and 1281 per ha respectively. Monetized value of overall risk in paddy, wheat and legumes is Rs 716, 650 and 1738 per ha respectively. An economic incentive consisting of risk and social benefits, to the tune of Rs 8611 and 9225 per ha over wheat and paddy respectively, should be provided for the production of legumes. The study highlights the need to internalize environmental benefits of legumes vis-à-vis competing crops, and accordingly cultivation of legumes needs to be encouraged through a proper mechanism of incentivization.

Keywords

Economic Incentive, Environmental Benefits, Legumes, Risk Sharing, Rice, Wheat.

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K. Justin George ¹, Suresh Kumar ¹, R. Arya Raj ¹

Affiliations
1 Agriculture and Soils Department, Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (ISRO), 4 Kalidas Road, Dehradun 248 001, IN

Abstract

Visible–near infrared (VNIR) spectroscopy is a relatively fast and cost-effective analytical technique for estimating soil organic carbon (SOC). The present study was undertaken for predicting SOC using VNIR reflectance spectroscopy employing artificial neural network (ANN). Surface soil samples (0–15 cm) were collected from 75 georeferenced locations through grid sampling approach in a hilly watershed of Himachal Pradesh, India, and analysed for SOC. The reflectance spectra of soil samples was measured using a spectroradiometer in the wavelength range of 350– 2500 nm. Various spectral indices were generated using the sensitive bands in the visible region. The SOC-sensitive spectral indices and reflectance transformations were utilized for predictive modelling of SOC using the ANN model. This model could predict SOC values with R² of 0.92 and MSE value of 0.24, indicating that this technique can be used to predict SOC in a spatial domain when coupled with highresolution hyperspectral satellite/airborne data.

Keywords

Artificial Neural Network Model, Reflectance Spectroscopy, Soil Organic Carbon, Visible And Near Infrared Region.

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Suresh Kumar ¹, D. R. Singh ², M. Madhu ³, Rajesh Bishnoi ¹

Affiliations
1 ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Research Centre, Koraput 763 002, IN
2 ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Insti-tute, Pusa Campus, New Delhi 110 012, IN
3 ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, 218 Kaulagarh Road, Dehradun 248 195, IN

Abstract

No Abstract.

Keywords

No Keywords.

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Saswat Kumar Kar ¹, Suresh Kumar ², M. Sankar ³, S. Patra ³, R. M. Singh ⁴, S. S. Shrimali ³, P. R. Ojasvi ³

Affiliations
1 ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Dehradun 248 195, India; Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221 005, IN
2 Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, Indian Space Research Organization, Dehradun 248 001, IN
3 ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Dehradun 248 195, IN
4 Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221 005, IN

Abstract

The conservation and sustainability of natural resources, particularly soil and water, are crucial for agricultural yield and livelihood. Soil erosion models simulate the influence of existing farm management patterns as well as soil conservation interventions affecting soil erosion rates and accordingly recommend appropriate management techniques. The erosion models might be helpful for forecasting soil erosion, sediment load and evaluating the effectiveness of conservation measures. Although numerous empirical, conceptual or physical process-based models are used to study soil erosion, they differ in respect of input data requirements, representation of physical processes, sediment yield, and limitations due to their spatial and temporal variations. Due to limitations in empirical models in describing the erosion process, some pro­cess-based models may be used to quantify the state of soil erosion in a region. Before use, the available erosion models must be evaluated and validated for local circumstances. In this respect, the present study has been carried out to provide a critical review of various soil erosion models used worldwide, having different climatic parameters for determining soil erosion rate, run-off and sediment yield status.

Keywords

Conservation measures, natural resources, process-based models, run-off, sediment yield, soil erosion.

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Suresh Kumar ¹, M. Madhu ², B. Mondal ³, Ashok Kumar ⁴

Affiliations
1 ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Research Centre, Koraput 763 002, India, IN
2 ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Dehradun 248 195, India, IN
3 ICAR-National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack 753 006, India, IN
4 ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Research Centre, Kota 324 002, India, IN

Abstract

This study traces the development of watersheds in India based on the governing guidelines of the watershed programmes. We explore the changes and modifications in the watershed guidelines and categorize the developmental changes into six distinct yet interlinked phases. We observed that the watershed guidelines were fine-tuned with emerging challenges of land degradation, livelihood secu­rity, gender and social equity, climate change mitigation and adaptations. Recently, the focus of water­sheds has shifted from production centric to income-centric by promoting enabling institutional settings. The experiences and learnings from India’s watershed programmes provide insights for other developing countries implementing such programmes

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