Kripal Singh

New Approaches to Enhance Eco-Restoration Efficiency of Degraded Sodic Lands: Critical Research Needs and Future Prospects

©2011 by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. New Approaches to Enhance EcoRestoration Efficiency of Degraded Sodic Lands: Critical Research Needs and Future Prospects Vimal chandra Pandey (Department of Environmental science, Babasaheb Bhimrao ambedkar (central) University, Raibarelly Road, lucknow 226025, Uttar Pradesh, india, vimalcpandey@gmail.com), Kripal singh (Restoration Ecology group, national Botanical Research institute, Rana Pratap Marg, lucknow 226001, Uttar Pradish, india), Bajrang singh (Restoration Ecology group, national Botanical Research institute, Rana Pratap Marg, lucknow 226001, Uttar Pradish, india), and Rana P. singh (Department of Environmental science, Babasaheb Bhimrao ambedkar (central) University, Raibarelly Road, lucknow 226025, Uttar Pradesh, india).

Inclusion complex of Isatoic anhydride with β-cyclodextrin and supramolecular one-pot synthesis of 2, 3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-ones in aqueous media

The inclusion complex of isatoic anhydride with β-cyclodextrin was formed as a result of intermolecular interaction between isatoic anhydride with β-CD. The inclusion complex was confirmed by IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and DSC studies. From application of complex, herein we have described a simple and efficient protocol for synthesis of 2, 3-dihydroquinazoline-4(1H)-one derivatives by one pot condensation of isatoic anhydride, ammonium acetate or amine and aldehyde using β-CD as a supramolecular catalyst in aqueous media.

The Field Performance of some Accessions of Jatropha Curcas L. (Biodiesel Plant) on Degraded Sodic Land in North India

Twenty four accessions of Jatropha curcas L. (JCL) were planted on a degraded sodic land in Lucknow, India, in which growth and yield traits were measured over five years (2006–2010). There was a large variation in growth and yield among these accessions, and the average seed yield (118 g plant−1) and oil content (30%) of JCL on the sodic land were sufficiently low to make it an economically feasible venture for biofuel production. The seed:fruit, kernel:seed ratios and the 100 seed test weight were also measured. In order to make it an economically viable proposition, some preliminary screening were done to assort the superior accessions (CSMCRI-C1, NBPGR-Urlikanchan, NBPGR-Chhatrapati, and NBPGR-Hansraj), on the basis of growth and yield traits, that have attained an average height of 264.6–344.6 cm, with an 8.5- to 10-cm collar diameter, 41–57 branches per plant, a 209- to 290-cm canopy spread, a 178–246 g plant−1 seed yield, and a 27–38% oil content at five years. Though they do not correlate well between growth/yield and gas exchange parameters (photosynthetic rate, transpiration, stomatal conductance, and water use efficiency), even then these markers are useful to screen out a large number of accessions at an early stage before the yield starts or stabilizes to increase the land use efficiency. The changes in soil properties after five years of the plantations showed reduction in soil pH and electrical conductivity, with a parallel increase in organic carbon, organic nitrogen, microbial biomass, and dehydrogenase activity, indicating that JCL had a modest ability to reclaim the sodic soils.

Relation of Forest Structure and Soil Properties in Natural, Rehabilitated and Degraded Forest

Relation of Forest Structure and Soil Properties in Natural, Rehabilitated and Degraded Forest Plant community structure, species diversity and soil properties of natural, rehabilitated and degraded forests were studied in order to assess relationship of different forests structure and soil properties in upper Indo-Gangetic plain of Uttar Pradesh state of India. The composition of species, population bundance and importance value of the woody species were investigated in each forest; the representative soil samples from 30 cm depth of each forest were also analyzed for the soil properties. Dominant families at the natural forest are Moraceae (21.9%) and Rubiaceae (15.6%) while at the rehabilitated forest are Moraceae (53.8%) and Fabaceae (23%). In the degraded forest, the Moraceae and Fabaceae are dominant families occupy 33% each. These among forest community structure indicate that degraded forests are less complex ecosystems than natural forest stands.

An exact solution of unsteady free convective MHD flow past a hot vertical porous plate with variable temperature in slip flow regime

An analysis of an unsteady free convective flow of a viscous, incompressible, electrically conducting fluid past an infinite hot vertical porous plate in slip flow regime has been carried out under the following assumptions: (i)the suction velocity normal to the plate is constant, (ii) the plate temperature is spanwise cosinusoidal fluctuating with time, (iii) the difference between the temperature of the plate and the free stream is moderately large causing free convection currents and (iv) the transversely applied magnetic field and magnetic Reynold number are really small and, hence, the induced magnetic field is negligible. The governing equations have been solved by adopting complex variable notations and the expressions for velocity and temperature fields obtained. The transient velocity, temperature, and amplitude the shear stress and heat transfer at the plate have been discussed.