Search

The composition of species, as well as their population and regeneration status of tree species, provide an important ecological foundation for assessing the current state and rate of ecosystem degradation. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the plant species composition with population and regeneration status of the 40 different tree species in peri-urban vegetation of Ranchi, eastern India using 52 belt transects each of 0.10 ha. A total of 58 different plant species of 49 genera and 26 families were recorded with the majority (86%) of native Indian origin species. The 14% of exotic origin species included dominant invasives in herb, shrub, and tree layers viz., Mesosphaerum suaveolens (L.) Kuntze. (2949 ind. ha−1), Lantana camara L. (1667 ind. ha−1), and Acacia mangium Willd. (33 ind. ha−1), respectively. On the other hand, 59% of the total plant species were IUCN Red-listed including Endangered (Tectona grandis L.f.), Near Threatened (Aegle maremlos (L.) Corrêa), Data Deficient (Mangifera indica L.), and Least Concern (Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. ex DC). Total adult tree density and basal cover were 541 ind. ha−1 and 24.93 m2 ha−1, respectively and Shorea robusta C.F.Gaertn. was the most dominant tree (295 ind. ha−1) recorded in the majority of the studied patches (87%) where adult tree density (ind. ha− 1) ranged from 10 to 1520 with a mean of 363 ± 49 (SE) signifying that the majority of the studied urban vegetation was Sal dominated forest patches. The total density of tree seedlings (22,627 ind. ha−1) was highest in the studied peri-urban vegetation of Ranchi followed by total tree saplings density (2677 ind. ha−1) and adult tree (GBH ≥ 10 cm) density (541 ind. ha−1) signifying good regeneration status (density of seedlings > saplings > adults) of the peri-urban vegetation of Ranchi. was the most common human disturbance observed in 31% of the total studied patches. No regeneration of 56% of the total tree species, the prevalence of human disturbances in the 48% studied patches, and the occurrence of invasives in all three layers of vegetation in the studied peri-urban vegetation signify the ongoing biotic and abiotic pressure on the survival of different plant species at various growth stages. Besides, the predominance of plant species of rare and very rare occurrences (56.9%), IUCN Red-listed (59%) with a total of 84% native Indian origin species demonstrated the importance of the studied peri-urban vegetation and warrants for immediate conservation measures to protect it from further depletion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The horticulture industry has gained significant attention at the National and International levels due to its vital role in achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) and increasing farmers' income. Despite this, the sector faces challenges like climate change, disruptions, and insufficient supply chain infrastructure, posing risks to sustainable horticultural production. This study aims to bridge the knowledge gaps related to technology usage in sustainable horticulture, particularly among smallholder farmers in the Uttarakhand Hills region of India. The study focuses on the differences in adopting digital technology between large and small farmers and highlights the importance of sustainable solutions that cover the entire farming cycle. The research explores the potential of digital technology in tackling key challenges faced by smallholding farmers, including income generation, supply chain efficiency, and post-harvest losses. The study carried out primary research in a small Himalayan fruit orchard located in Mukteshwar, Nainital District, Uttarakhand, India. The case study highlights the positive influence of digital technologies on the lives of small farmers residing in hilly regions. The methodology of research findings is based on practical implementation and fieldwork observations and concludes with recommendations for income generation, supply chain improvement, and the establishment of a digital ecosystem tailored for smallholding farmers. These insights provide a valuable foundation for future research endeavors in the domain of sustainable horticultural production and further will be helpful to achieve the targets of SDGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harar (Terminalia chebula) and soybean (Glycine max) are the potential tree and agricultural crops of subtropical region of Himachal Pradesh, India, however the potential of these crops under agroforestry system has not been explored both from ecological and economical point of view. The objective of this paper was to determine the effect of harar–soybean combination on soil chemical properties and to analyse the economics of the agroforestry system as compared to the open system. Soybean was grown under harar trees as per the recommended package of practices. Before sowing and after harvesting, soil samples were collected from four directions (East, West, North and South) at three distances (1, 2 and 3 m) from harar trees and open cropping system (sole soybean) for determining chemical properties (pH, electrical conductivity and organic carbon) and nutrient dynamics (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium). In addition, the soil at two depths (0–15 cm and 15–30 cm) under trees at 2 m distance and in open was analyzed by GC–MS before and after cropping for the presence of allelochemicals that may affect crop yield. The economics of tree-crop combination was worked out and compared with the sole cropping system. The soil chemical properties and available nutrients in soil exhibited maximum values in the north direction. Except available phosphorus content, values of all the studied properties of soil increased with an increase in the distance of soybean crop from harar. It was also observed that values of soil chemical properties and nutrient contents increased significantly after intercropping in comparison to those before intercropping soybean. A substantial increase in soil properties was observed under the agroforestry system over the sole cropping system before sowing and after harvesting soybean. It was revealed that allelochemicals viz., octadecanoic acid, 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid and phthalic acid which do exist in harar trees were also detected in soil under the canopy of harar trees. The total cost of cultivation (Rs. 45,028.49 ha−1), gross returns (Rs. 101,937.78 ha−1), net returns (Rs. 56,909.29 ha−1) and benefit–cost ratio (2.26) were higher under the agroforestry system (harar + soybean) over sole soybean cropping. Improvement in soil health, soybean yield and higher economic returns indicated that combination of harar and soybean can be a viable option for farmers of subtropical areas of Himachal Pradesh for the upliftment of their socioeconomic status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present report communicates the first complete genome sequence of S-type Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, isolated from an organised goat herd in Uttar Pradesh, India. Bacteria were isolated in pure culture on Herrold's egg yolk medium (HEYM) slants containing mycobactin J from the faecal sample collected per-rectally from a clinical diseased goat, and next-generation sequencing (NGS) revealed that the genome sequence length of the isolated strain named MAP-Gt-9 is 4,509,428 bp with no plasmid DNA, with a GC content of 69.5%, an N50 value of 125,474 bp, and an L50 value of 12, containing 4235 coding DNA sequences (CDSs), 44 tRNAs, 3 ncRNAs and 1 each 5S, 16S, 23S rRNA genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]