Informatics Publishing Limited

Chandru Patil ¹, K. S. Niranjana ¹, B. S. Shivakumara ¹

Affiliations
1 Horticulture Research Station, UHS (B), Sringeri, Chikmagalore, Karnataka, IN

Abstract

Water crisis in present days as a result of climate change effect has significantly altered the annual rainfall and river flow regimes, and will in turn affect the groundwater recharging rate. Prevention of stress on ground water can be made possible by way of recharging the ground water through scientific watershed management. Therefore, watershed treatment is an ideal method for recharging ground water and to prevent stress on ground water. In the present investigation, a modest attempt has been made to assess impact of watershed treatment on ground water recharge in Totaganti micro watershed in Hirekerur taluk, Haveri district, Karnataka. The water harvesting structures like contour bund, recharge pit, farm pond, check dam, bore well recharge pit, earthen bunds and desiltation of tanks and agro-forestry were implemented. The nine bore well stations were randomly selected for taking ground water samples in upper, middle and lower reaches of the micro watershed. Out of 115 irrigation sources in the micro watershed, 65 sources were functioning and 50 sources were non-functioning before watershed treatment. After watershed treatment, functioning irrigation sources were raised from 65 to 105. This clearly indicates that there is a net raise in the irrigation sources due to increase in the ground water recharge. Further, the maximum average bore well yield 2.43 l/ sec. was recorded in stations of lower reaches and minimum bore well yield 2.30 l/sec. in stations of upper reaches. It also resulted in an increase in the productivity of some crops such as jowar from 3.0 to 3.7 q/acre, maize from 2.9 to 3.2 q/acre, cotton from 2.6 to 3.3 q/acre and red gram from 2.1 to 2.5 q/acre. This shows that there was significant difference in productivity between before and after watershed treatment. About 25.53 per cent of the farmers are found to be socio economically strong, 54.25 per cent medium class and 20.21 per cent lower class. Majority of people were actively participated in Mandal Panchayat (53.57%), 26.78 per cent in Zilla Panchayat and 19.64 per cent in co-operative society.

Keywords

Crop Productivity, Ground Water Recharge, Micro Watershed, Water Harvesting Structures

Full Text

     

B. S. Shivakumara ¹, V. Sridhar ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Industrial and Production Engineering, P.E.S College of Engineering, Mandya, Karnataka, IN

Abstract

Motorcycle riders are subjected to hand arm and whole body vibrations. Both these vibrations affect the health of the rider. This paper attempts to analyze the effects of these vibrations on heart using finite element simulation and experiments. Firstly, the hand arm and whole body vibration forces are measured by conducting experiments on different motorcycles and for various road conditions. These measured forces are applied to the finite element model of a motorcycle rider to predict the distribution of Von mises stress around heart. Secondly, the average relative heart rate, the hand arm and whole body vibration accelerations are measured with by conducting experiments on different riders with typical body mass index and for various road conditions. The variations in the vibrations magnitude and the Von mises stress around heart correlate well. The Von mises stress and heart rate are more sensitive to the hand arm vibrations than the whole body vibrations. This effect on the heart may cause a cardiac problem in the long run.

Keywords

Finite Element Simulation, Motorcycle Rider, Hand-Arm Vibration, Heart Rate; Whole-Body Vibration.

Full Text