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Water harvesting is a critical component of any approach to alleviating India's water crisis. Traditional rainwater harvesting systems are found in every region of the country. Haveli is one such system found in almost every village in the Bundelkhand region, Uttar Pradesh, India. A defunct Haveli in the Parasai-Sindh watershed of Jhansi district, Uttar Pradesh, was rejuvenated by providing a cement concrete core wall to the earthen embankment to address the problem of breaching, and the existing outlet was also expanded. This study was conducted from 2013 to 2019 to analyse the hydrology of the rejuvenated Haveli and to understand its impact on surface-water availability and recharging groundwater. The study period was divided based on long-term southwest monsoon (SWM) as wet (SWM > 20%), normal (SWM ± 20%) and dry (SWM < 20%) years. It was found that the Haveli could harvest about 1.91-2.0 times, 1.13-1.72 times and 0.2 times its capacity during a wet, normal and dry year, respectively. There was a 1.41 m difference in hydraulic head between pre- and post-Haveli rejuvenation in a wet year, whereas, a normal year, the difference was 2.71 m. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article the author discusses Garhkundar-Dabar watershed in Bundelkhand, India where there is shortage of water. It highlights that eight check dams and streams were constructed. It states that adoption of water and soil conservation measures on the watershed reduced run-off and also increased water availability in the region. It mentions that well planned measures have reduced nutrients and soil loss and water in wells also increased due to it.

The article presents information on the Indian National Science Academy (INSA). It is one of the pioneer academies in the country and has 1000 fellows. INSA has formed many committees for a period of three years consisting of 5-6 members. But the committees meet infrequently and without much agenda. It is suggested that these committees must be broadened for the growth of science in India.

A letter to the editor is presented regarding the earthquake prediction researches that funding agencies in India should support using the multi geophysical parameters to save lives like the Geological Survey of India on its field measurement in Assam, India.

Bambusa vulgaris was multiplied by burying whole culms during 2014 and 2015 at the Research Farm of ICAR-Central Agroforestry Research Institute, Jhansi. Two-year-old bamboo culms produced higher number (165) of shoots than 1-year (114) and 3-year-old culms (57). The culm planting method resulted in prolific rooting pattern during monsoon season, and on an average 5.7 rooted plants were obtained from every alternate node. Rooted sprouts were separated from each productive node along with fibrous roots attached to it and were planted in polythene bags as new plantlets. This method of planting was found impressive for developing live bamboo fence and producing a large number of plants from scarce planting material. This technique promises a large number of planting material and readily acceptable technology to the farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poplar (Populus deltoides) has gained considerable importance in agroforestry plantations of western Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir due to its deciduous nature, fast growth, short rotation and high industrial requirement. Poplarbased agroforestry systems are prevalent among farmers of Saharanpur (UP) and Yamunanagar (Haryana) districts of northwestern India. These systems are not only remunerative to the farmers, but also play an important role in the assimilation of atmospheric carbon dioxide in the form of biomass carbon stocks. An assessment of carbon storage vis-à-vis CO2 assimilation by poplar plantations in agroforestry has been made for these two districts. Contribution of poplar plantations to carbon storage was found to be 27- 32 t ha-1 in boundary system, whereas it was 66- 83 t ha-1 in agrisilviculture system at a rotation period of 7 years in the two districts. Thus, poplar plantations make important contributions towards atmospheric CO2 assimilation and hence play a significant role in the mitigation of atmospheric accumulation of greenhouse gases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]