Search

In the current communication, we assessed the current spread and invasion pattern of a new invasive alien plant Wigandia urens along National Highway 58 in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. The population status of this species was assessed using systematic vegetation sampling. Ecological niche modelling was performed using maxent to predict the future spread. The study revealed that W.urens is rapidly invading along the road on rocky eroded slopes. The actual distribution of this species is 30 km. Spatial analysis revealed that a 202 km2 area along river valleys is vulnerable in the near future. It is submitted that the low-lying areas along river catchments between 300 and 1000 m elevations might be the potential niche. Therefore, mechanical removal by uprooting the whole plant at regular intervals and monitoring of invaded sites would be the practical solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A ground-based and heliborne survey was conducted immediately after the disaster that took place on 7th February, 2021 in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. Based on these observations and freely available Google Earth imagery, we have arrived at plausible causes of this catastrophe as detachment of a sizeable rock mass and overlying hanging glacier in the Raunthi catchment that dammed the Rishiganga River and led to the devastation of roads, bridges and hydropower projects in downstream. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on investigating the source of sulfur dioxide pollution in Uttarakhand, a popular tourist destination, which is found to be influenced by various factors including human activities, agricultural biomass burning, and forest fires.

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is the largest active terrestrial carbon reservoir, which behaves both as a sink and source for atmospheric carbon. The same is maximum in the forest soil ofAbies pindrow(128 t ha−1) and minimum inPinus roxburghii(69 t ha−1). The mitigation potential is also found to be maximum in Alpine forest soil (i.e., 1.84) inAbies pindrowand minimum in the chir (i.e., 1.00) inP. Roxburghii. This indicates that alpine forest soil can hold nearly two times more SOC than chir and hence it behaves as a CO2sink. The overall average content of SOC and carbon dioxide equivalent under all land use was estimated at 91.29 t ha−1and 334.11 t ha−1, respectively. The objective of this study is to estimate the spatial variability of SOC stocks in the catchment of both the Tehri and Koteshwar hydroelectric reservoir using field investigations, laboratory measurements, and geostatistical methods. The study provides an estimation for the amount of carbon reaching to the reservoir through various sources, where it undergoes aerobic and anaerobic degradation, thereby releasing green house gases (GHGs) to the atmosphere. The information provided in this article will be useful for policy-makers and environmentalists for undertaking appropriate conservation plans to mitigate GHGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The soil stoichiometric ratios (C:N:P) were invariant in lower Himalaya. • The studied region has low C:N ratio indicating prospect for N 2 O emission. • Abies species have a higher C sequestration potential and carbon credit. • The findings are helpful to understand nutrient dynamics in forest. Understating of forest functioning is crucial for ensuring the sustainable flow of forest ecosystem services. Climate regulation service of a forest ecosystem can be ensured through emission reduction by increasing carbon sequestration in forests. However, understanding about the functioning of forests for carbon sequestration is constrained due to lack of information on nutrient stocks and stoichiometry of soils of forests of India. Present study focuses to examine the stoichiometry of major nutrients; nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), carbon (C) of forest soil to understand the dynamics of the forests of Uttarakhand, India. The study also attempted to supplement the information about the soil carbon sequestration potential of important tree species of the forest. Soil samples were collected randomly for the evaluation of physico-chemical characteristics and stoichiometry of forest soil at four altitudinal ranges i.e., <1000, 1000–1500, 1500–2000, and >2000 m a.s.l in the Himalayan region of Uttarakhand, India. The analysis shows that total nitrogen, total phosphorous, and soil organic carbon contents in forest soil were 0.35 ± 0.11%, 0.10 ± 0.04% and 3.36 ± 0.84%, respectively, which increases with altitude. The stoichiometric ratios viz., C:N:P, N:P, C:N, and C:P, and N:P were reported of 51.6:5.4:1, 4.30 ± 2.39, 9.60 ± 1.48, and 41.94 ± 23.35, respectively which were invariant with altitude. The low C:N ratio may be attributed to either increase in the nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions with an increase in nitrogen, or low in carbon stock leading to decrease in carbon dioxide (CO 2) and methane (CH 4) emissions. Moreover, the soil C sequestration potential in the forest tree species follow the order of Abies pindrow > Cedrus deodara > Quercus leucotrichophora > Pinus roxburghii. The information of the study would facilitate for broadening the understanding about the soil properties and stoichiometry of forest ecosystem and would provide an aid to forest management besides contributing to the mitigations strategies of the forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Thalictrum (Ranunculaceae), commonly known as meadow rue, comprises 200 species throughout the world and there are 25 taxa growing in India. While revising the genus in India, we came across a new species collected in Nainital in the Uttarakhand Himalaya. The new species, Thalictrum nainitalense, is differentiated from its closely allied species T. punduanum in its habitat preference for moist shaded stands in Rhododendron arboreum and Quercus oblongata forests, creamy-white flowers, the size of the sepals and stamens, and fusiform, stipitate, hairy achenes. A line drawing, colour plates and a key to the species found in the Uttarakhand Himalaya are provided to aid identification. The status of Thalictrum nainitalense as a species new to science is supported by morphological and molecular data. [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]

Deafmutism affects communication and wholesome development of an individual. India has a significant burden of deafness in the country. Even fourteen years after the launch of a National Program for Prevention and Control of Deafness in year 2006, we lack detailed data about the disability from most regions of the country. This study aims at finding out the prevalence, clinical history-examination and audiological profile of deaf-mute patients visiting the Out Patient Department (OPD) of a tertiary care institute in Uttarakhand, and compare the results with similar studies published during last 20 years from India to generate a literature review. Out of 46,049 patients that visited OPD of the institute during the given period of 24 months, 73 cases were short-listed clinically to be enrolled in the study. However, only 55 (75%) of them completed the questionnaire and audiological testing. All information was extracted from the patients/relatives with the help of a questionnaire in the Hindi language. The prevalence of deafmutism in patient presenting in our OPD in the study period was 0.3%. The history of pre-, peri- and post-natal risk factors was present in high percentage (58.2%, 78.2% and 34.5% respectively) of patients. This warrants review of our maternal and child healthcare strategies. The literature review revealed lack of uniform and standardized tool in conducting and reporting of studies on deafmutism. The questionnaire used in this study can be further improved and modified in the future as per the requirements of data collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Unilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss (USNHL) is an age-old known entity. Patients with USNHL lack the merits of binaural hearing, i.e., temporal summation, sound localization, and speech recognition in a noisy environment. The lack of binaural hearing affects such individuals' quality of life (QOL). The present study is the most extensive Indian series related to QOL in USNHL patients. Objectives. This study aims to assess the impact of USNHL on the QOL of patients in the state of Uttarakhand. Methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out at a tertiary care center in Uttarakhand over a period of 18 months, from January 2018 to July 2019. A total of 115 patients with pure USNHL were evaluated using a validated questionnaire—Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults-Hindi (HHIA-H). Results. In our study, patients with higher HHIA-H scores were male, young adults (age group 18–30 years), students, and laborers. Most of our patients (64%) had significant handicaps, followed by moderate handicaps in 25%. However, no significant correlation of degree of handicap was seen with age, duration, and degree of hearing loss. Conclusion. USNHL can lead to a significant handicap that can severely affect the emotional and social aspects of life. Thus, early diagnosis and rehabilitation are essential to prevent handicap and uplift QOL in patients with USNHL. This trial is registered with Clinical Trials Registry of India (CTRI reg. no. CTRI/2018/06/014396). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]