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Agroforestry has great potential for carbon (C) sequestration among different land uses of the Himalayan region, India. However, our knowledge of C sequestration in particular, agroforestry system around the world is poor. Therefore, we conducted a study to understand biomass accumulation and carbon allocation in different components of the agroforestry system. The highest stem biomass was recorded in Eucalyptus tereticornis (69.43 ± 0.90 Mg ha-1), branch biomass in Populus deltoids (5.04 ± 0.35 Mg ha-1), leaf biomass also in P. deltoids (2.21 ± 0.12 Mg ha-1), and root biomass in Albizia procera (14.01 ± 0.44 Mg ha-1). The highest (81.01%) C allocation was recorded in the stem of Toona ciliate, branch of P. deltoids (5.73%), leaves of E. tereticornis (2.93%) and root of Anthocephalus cadamba (16.83%). The highest CO2 mitigation (160.5 ± 2.55 Mg CO2 ha-1) and C sequestration (45.33 ± 0.60 Mg ha-1) were recorded in E. tereticornis. The highest wheat crop biomass (11.85 ± 0.23 Mg ha-1) and C stock (3.59 ± 0.05 Mg ha-1) were recorded in P. deltiodes. However, soil carbon stock was recorded in E. tereticornis (37.5 ± 3.52 Mg ha-1). Thus, trees on farmlands with crops are suitable for biomass production and C allocation in different components under changing climatic scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge of carbon (C) pools in soils is helpful in devising practices for efficient carbon management in intensive cropping systems. Carbon fractions of soil organic carbon are used as an indicator for land-use induced change in soil quality. The present study evaluated carbon pools under Terminalia chebula (chebulic myrobalan) based agroforestry system supplied with different nutrient sources, viz. farmyard manure, poultry manure, vermicompost, wheat straw and inorganic fertilizer (NPK @ 100 : 80 : 60). Carbon fractions, viz. very labile (C1 frac), labile (C2 frac), less labile (C3 frac) and non-labile (C4 frac), were analysed at 0-15 and 15-30 cm soil depth. The higher value of C1 frac (13.8%), C2 frac (4.8%), C3 frac (8.3%) and C4 frac (11.1%) were recorded under agroforestry as compared to open system. Among the nutrient sources, all the carbon fractions were higher under 100% integrated nutrient sources as compared to controlled treatment. Microbial biomass carbon (MBC) was recorded higher (298.31 μg g-1) under agroforestry system compared to the open system (290.63 μg g-1) at 0-15 cm. Among the different nutrient sources, higher MBC (458.66 μg g-1) at 0-15 cm and lower (340.59 μg g-1) at 15-30 cm soil depth was recorded in 100% integrated treatment. Thus, agroforestry-based land-use types and integrated nutrient management are more efficient for soil health and carbon management in Himalayan foothills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The himFlorIS is an information system for flora in Himachal Pradesh (HP). At present, it provides information on 1141 plant species distributed across 49 landscape elements (LSE) in the state. It is based on the floristic survey of HP during 2003-2009. It provides information regarding LSE, LSE types, physiographic factors, abundance of the species at a particular location, geographical locations of a plant on the map, taxonomic classification of the species along with its photographs and ethno-botanical uses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanofertilizers have emerged as an effective alternative to traditional fertilizers. They contribute to increased agricultural production by increasing input efficiency and reducing relevant losses. The present study was carried out at the G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India, during 2016-17 to study the effect of synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on the growth and productivity of wheat and field pea crops. The results of the study revealed that significantly greater wheat and field pea plant height was recorded with 10, 20 and 50 ppm concentration of ZnO NPs, which decreased at 100 ppm concentration. A significantly higher yield of wheat was recorded at 50 ppm ZnO NPs concentration (3.28 ± 0.51 g plant-1), followed by 20 ppm (3.05 ± 0.43 g plant-1), which was at par with 100 ppm (3.02 ± 0.45 g plant-1), and the minimum at 10 ppm concentration (2.70 ± 0.34 g plant-1) over control. A similar trend in yield was observed for field pea. With respect to the mode of application, a higher yield of wheat was observed in the seed-soaking method (3.05 ± 0.43 g plant-1); however, in the case of field pea, a higher yield was observed using foliar spray (6.21 ± 0.52 g plant-1) method of ZnO application. Higher Zn content was observed in 50 ppm concentration for wheat (42.39 µg g-1) and field pea (26.00 µg g-1). The higher Zn use efficiency in terms of physiological efficiency was recorded at 20 ppm concentration (1.46) for wheat and 10 ppm (5.51) for field pea. Hence, it can be concluded that the applied ZnO NPs have stimulating effects on wheat and field pea crop growth and yield through increased zinc content in plants, zinc uptake and zinc use efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first Indian superconducting gravimeter (SG) was installed in March 2007 at the Multi-Parametric Geophysical Observatory of the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, in the Himalaya near the Main Central Thrust at Ghuttu, Uttarakhand, India. Almost immediately after installation, the free oscillations excited after the Solomon Islands earthquake (M = 8.1) were well recorded on the SG. The frequency and amplitude of several of these oscillations have been estimated in the present study and compared with the earlier global observations. The results are in tandem with similar studies carried out using a global dataset from the seismometers and SG. The present study validates the quality of the recorded data to search minute (submicrogal) coseismic/precursory gravity signals to large earthquakes and sets the background for future low-frequency seismological research in the country. Some new applications of SG data are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information about several papers discussed during the Thematic Workshop on Avian Biology held at the Department of Zoology and Environmental Science of the Gurukula Kangri University in Haridwar, India on November 27 to 30, 2008 is presented. The event has comprised of various activities including thematic lectures, special lectures, mini-workshops, and poster sessions. Lecturers are R. J. Ranjit Daniels, Abdul J. Urfi, Dinesh Bhatt, and Vinaya Kumar Sethi.

Chorabari Glacier (6.6 sq. km) in the Mandakini River basin, a tributary of the River Alaknanda, Central Himalaya, Garhwal (India) has been monitored in terms of its length and frontal area (snout) changes for the period between 1962 and 2012. Global Positioning System, Survey of India toposheet (1 : 50,000) and ground-based measurements were used to obtain the changes in morphology and size of the glacier. The result shows that the frontal area of the glacier has shrunk by 1% and 344 ± 24 m length loss, with an average rate of 6.8 ± 0.5 m a-1 from 1962 to 2012. The observed terminus records of Chorabari Glacier indicate that the positive mass balance can cause terminus advance in about a 17-year timescale. The lag time of glacier signal transferred from accumulation area to the snout by glacier flow is about 562 years. These observations as well as other studies carried out in the region show a significant reduction in glacier area. The increased retreat rate of the glacier snout is probably a direct consequence of global warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information related to the brainstorming on the future of the highly threatened medicinal plants of the Western Himalaya, India. It mentions that the Himalayan ecosystems are a hotspot of biodiversity; and also regulate climate and provide livelihoods to several people. It also mentions about the assessment of medicinal and aromatic plant (MAP) species, including their collection, usage, demand, market, price trend and life cycle.