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Bundelkhand region of India is primarily agrarian, vulnerable to natural calamities with low levels of industrialization and urbanization. Poor crop productivity, declining and irregular rainfall pattern and poor income levels make livelihood uncertain in the region. Pulse crops assume a special significance to the farm economy in Bundelkhand region as well as daily diets of local habitants. Chickpea, lentil, field pea, urdbean, mungbean and pigeon pea are the major pulse crops cultivated in the region. Data from Department of economics and statistics, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, New Delhi and the studies on pulses development of Bundelkhand region of India were analyzed. Pulses account for 32% of total agriculture produce and occupy about 33.6% of gross cropped area in the region. However, decline in area coverage of pulses has been observed in the region, in contrast to overall increase in gross cropped area in the region. The paper discusses about the various challenges confronting pulses cultivation in the region along with the possible intervention points for bringing out an enhanced pulse production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world is facing immense pressure due to expanding discourse on resource security. The study is conducted in the water–energy–food (WEF) Nexus context to understand the inter-relatedness of the sectors for sustainable development, eliciting stakeholders' perspectives. Banda District lies in Bundelkhand region of India. It is drought-hit and lacks basic infrastructure and hence has been selected for this research. It is facing challenges stemming from WEF resources insecurity which has triggered mass migration, farmer suicide, unemployment, and indebtedness. In this exploratory research study, nineteen parameters are analyzed using multi-criteria decision analysis and weighted index method to calculate the Stakeholder opinion-based development index (SODI). GIS is used for spatial mapping to characterize the grassroots disparity highlighting the perspective and expectations of the 534 surveyed households. The SODI of Banda District is calculated to be 10.157, which lies in the average category. Most parameters (78.95 percent) fall below the average category, showing that the region is backward and the spatial mapping helps in identifying lacunae in the development of the District. The novelty of this research lies in using the analytical method to examine qualitative parameters that highlight stakeholders' perspectives and usage of unique methodology in formulating the index to study the region holistically for sustainable development. It is concluded with recommendations based on findings using a system-based approach. The modified structural approach of the Stakeholder Opinion-based Development Index and research methodology can be employed for profiling and analyzing the Districts of the same characteristics in and out of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) production is affected by many biotic factors, among them Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri and Botrytis gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea led to severe losses. As fungicide application is not advisable, biological management is the best alternative for plant protection. The rhizosphere-dwelling antagonistic bacteria are one of the important successful alternative strategy to manage these diseases of chickpea. Rhizosphere dwelling bacteria serve as biocontrol agents by different mechanisms like producing antibiotics, different enzymes, siderophores against pathogens and thereby reducing the growth of pathogens. Results: The present study aimed to isolate rhizospheric bacteria from the soils of different chickpea fields to evaluate biocontrol efficacy of the isolated bacteria to manage Fusarium wilt and Botrytis gray mold in chickpea. A total of 67 bacteria were isolated from chickpea rhizosphere from Bundelkhand region of India. Study revealed the isolated bacteria could reduce the Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris and Botrytis cinerea infection in chickpea between 17.29 and 75.29%. After screening of all the bacteria for their biocontrol efficacy, 13 most promising bacterial isolates were considered for further study out of which, three bacterial isolates (15d, 9c and 14a) have shown the maximum in vitro antagonistic effects against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri and Botrytis cinerea comparable to in vivo effects. However, Isolate (15d) showed highest 87.5% and 82.69% reduction in disease against Fusarium wilt and Botrytis gray mold respectively, under pot condition. Three most potential isolates were characterized at molecular level using 16S rRNA gene and found to be Priestia megaterium (9c and 14a) and Serratia marcescens (15d). Conclusion: This study identified two native biocontrol agents Priestia megaterium and Serratia marcescens from the rhizospheric soils of Bundelkhand region of India for control of Fusarium wilt, Botrytis gray mold. In future, efforts should be made to further validate the biocontrol agents in conjugation with nanomaterials for enhancing the synergistic effects in managing the fungal diseases in chickpea. This study will definitely enhance our understanding of these bioagents, and to increase their performance by developing effective formulations, application methods, and integrated strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global experiences reveal the positive impact of watershed-based interventions in improving livelihoods and environmental security. In the drylands, increasing forage resources and improving livestock productivity is a critical challenge. The overarching aim of this paper is to analyse the impact of watershed-based interventions on livestock population, productivity, fodder resources, and biomass availability. The paper describes the interrelationship between land, water, crop, and livestock and how the gap in forage deficit can be bridged through a range of watershed interventions. The study was undertaken in the Parasai-Sindh watershed of Central India between 2011 and 2016. A 300-year-old defunct haveli (a traditional rainwater harvesting structure) was renovated and nine check dams along the drainage line were constructed. Nearly 25,000 running-meters of field bunds were constructed. Large fields (2-3 ha) were divided into relatively smaller plots (0.3–0.5 ha) to reduce runoff velocity. The impact of watershed interventions on water availability, livestock productivity, forage yield, and income was studied through hydrological monitoring, primary household survey and principal component analysis (PCA) biplot and hierarchical clustering. The watershed interventions enhanced groundwater availability leading to greater fodder availability, 22% increase in livestock population (ACU) and a 120% increase in milk production over a period of five years. The bovine population recorded a surge of 193% (cattle) and 32% (buffalo) over this period. Mean dry matter (DM, fodder) availability also increased from 10 t/household/year to 16.7 t/household/year owing to improved water availability. Groundnut (rainy season) and wheat (post rainy season) contributed significantly as forage resources. There was an annual forage demand of 5560 t DM for a livestock population of 2175 ACU in 2011 and of 6770 t DM for a livestock population of 2650 ACU in 2016. Annual forage biomass availability was estimated at 4219 t DM in 2011 and 6977 t DM in 2016. There was a deficit of 1341 t DM (24%) in 2011 which turned into a 3% surplus of 210 t DM in 2016 through watershed-based interventions. With increased cropping intensity and milk production, average annual household income increased from US$ 1325 to US$ 2430 over the five-year period. This case study clearly illustrates the impact of watershed-based interventions on livestock population, productivity, forage resources, and biomass availability to bridge the gap in forage deficit. Its findings serve as a guide to widely scale up watershed-based interventions for improved water and biomass availability, and livestock productivity in semi-arid and dryland regions. [Display omitted] • Poor crop and livestock productivity is a critical challenge in drylands and watershed interventions could help build resilience to this • Interlinkages among land-water-crop-livestock sectors and their sustainability have been studied • Watershed based interventions enhanced groundwater availability, which reduced risk of crop failure, increased crop intensification and productivity • Forage availability has improved from deficit to surplus status due to watershed interventions despite significant increase in livestock population • Integrating land-water-crop-livestock interventions in watersheds can provide opportunities to improve rural livelihoods in drylands [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, three cultivars of Cymbopogon species viz., Lemongrass var. CKP-25, Himrosa var. IIIM(J)CK-10 and Jamarosa var. RRL(J)CN-5 were assessed with five levels of irrigation frequencies viz., 0.20 IW, 0.40 IW, 0.60 IW, 0.80 IW and 1.00 IW, in three consecutive years (2019-2022). In the study, irrigation was scheduled at 5 cm depth and performed as per the IW: CPE ratio. The amount of water was applied as per the levels of irrigation frequency from lower to higher and to meet the ratio of cumulative pan evaporation (CPE). Furthermore, increase in the levels of irrigation frequency increased the essential oil yield. Interaction among the cultivars of Cymbopogon species with the different levels of irrigation frequencies, Lemongrass var. CKP-25 proved significantly the highest essential oil yield (209.97, 389.12 and 406.57 kg ha-1) during 1st, 2nd and 3rd year, respectively. Similarly, in 2nd and 3rd years the net returns were found to be highest in Jamarosa var. RRL(J)CN-5 (Rs. 454627.00 and 502990.30 ha-1), respectively at same levels of irrigation frequency. The benefit: cost ratio was found to be superior with treatment receiving irrigation at 1.00 IW. However, percentage of essential oil content, secondary metabolite production viz., Lemongrass, citral (citral a + citral b) content percentage (82.47 ± 2.12), Himrosa and Jamrosa, geraniol and geranyl acetate percentage (76.23± 1.46 and 8.49 ± 1.03) and (61.12 ± 1.58 and 25.88 ± 1.11), respectively, highest at 0.20 & 0.40 IW, while both decreases at higher levels of irrigation frequency (1.00 IW) in all the three consecutive years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition from magmatic to solid-state deformation in granitic rocks is observed either in cases of shear-zone-controlled magma emplacement or in cases of magma-assisted shear-zone nucleation. In the latter case, pre-emplaced granitoid magmas that are later subjected to a dynamic regime with decreasing temperature accommodate stress that causes strain localization. Shear zones in this case are generally restricted to the contact zone between wall rock and granitoid magma, as it represents large viscosity discontinuities. In large granitic provinces (LGPs), however, rheological properties are mainly driven by the changes in physical parameters of granitic magmas, and thus, shear-zone nucleation in magmatic or sub-magmatic conditions cannot be attributed to the viscosity discontinuities caused by the presence of wall rock. Rather, in LGPs, it is only dependent on the rheological discontinuities within the granitic magmas, and thus, a detailed knowledge of the transition from magmatic to solid-state deformation can give important insights into the dynamic history of granitoid magmas in LGPs. The ~2.5 Ga old, voluminous granitoids of Bundelkhand Craton have been affected by multiple shear systems. Among these, the NE–SW and E–W shear systems are major systems that affected the granitoid microstructures. The NE–SW shear system transects the craton as multiple small- and large-scale shear zones, while the E–W shear system is mainly present in the central part of the Bundelkhand Craton. A petrographic study of a ~25 km long, NE–SW trending Baldeogarh shear zone and granite microstructures in associated areas show important magmatic and solid-state deformation features. Overprinting of solid-state deformation over sub-magmatic deformation confirms the progression of deformation with decreasing temperature. Contrary to this, E–W trending microstructures are primarily magmatic to sub-magmatic with rare small-scale solid-state deformation. This indicates that the E–W shear system is older in southern Bundelkhand and was followed by the NE–SW shear system in magmatic conditions. Therefore, the presence of a transition from magmatic to solid-state deformation along the NE–SW trending shear zone indicates that bulk cooling of the granitoid took place while the NE–SW shear system was active. Research Highlights: Transition from magmatic to solid-state deformation in Large Granitic Provinces. Magmatic to solid-state deformation along NE-SW shear zone. Overprinting textures of transition from sub-magmatic to solid-state deformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study, using cross sectional data from 170 farmers, empirically established that agroforestry positively affects food security and significantly reduces income variability among farmers in Bundelkhand region lying in semi-arid tropics of central India. A 1% increase in the tree density and tree diversity on farm significantly increases food security status by 0.231% and 0.141% points, respectively. Further variability in income reduces by around 0.38% and 0.16% with unit percentage increase in tree density and diversity, respectively. Therefore, amid the epoch of global climate change, agroforestry practice can be a crucial climate smart agriculture option. Farmers' challenges were also identified and ranked by using Problem Confrontation Index (PCI). The study unveils that, efforts towards controlling stray animals, creating marketing environment, strengthening and streamlining the extension services for more technological and input support requires a strategic institutional framework as a key to upgrade agroforestry in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regular monitoring of drought events, watershed characterization, management, and development efforts is crucial for future disaster predictions and mitigation strategies. The drought susceptibility investigation has been carried out in the Ken River Basin of Bundelkhand region, one of the most drought‐prone areas in India. Proxies used in the present study are long‐term climatological data (rainfall, standardized precipitation index, and aridity index), satellite data (slope, drainage density [DD], distance to river, and normalized difference vegetation index), lithology, lineament density, and groundwater depth. By the analytical hierarchy process, weightage of each factor is assigned according to its importance. Study shows that nearly 48% of the area of the basin experiences moderate to severe drought conditions. In the last five decades, there have been 22 years of extreme drought, with the most extended period being 1972–1974 and the driest year being 2006–2007. Sensitivity analysis reveals that lithology, slope, and DD are the most significant parameters in the susceptibility analysis. Model validation through an artificial neural network demonstrates the model's high accuracy (0.9) and sensitivity with minor errors. An integrated study of drought susceptibility and morphometry is useful for identifying the drought risk hotspots in the basin. The investigation will be helpful in river basin management and disaster management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study explores the struggles and successes of community media journalists in covering gender issues and violence against women in remote rural areas in India. The article introduces some small-scale community newspapers from the country's hindsight and presents an elaborative case study of Khabar Lahariya that prioritise gender issues in the content. The study records the presence and efforts of Khabar Lahariya in the reporting of gender issues by providing testimonies and examples from the field. The women journalists of the organisation successfully create a discourse around gender issues and bring about change in the Bundelkhand region by covering stories of violence and atrocities against women with their gender-sensitive perspective and unshakable confidence. At the same time, they put their own safety at risk for social change. Interestingly, a documentary film on the struggles of these women journalists has made its entry to Oscar nominations for the year 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]