Rohitashw Kumar

Simulation of Mulch and No-Mulch Conditions for Various Soil Matric Potential Thresholds for Drip-Fertigated Guava (Psidium guajava L.) in the Semiarid Region of Northwest India

AbstractField experiments were conducted in a semiarid region of Punjab state, northwest India, for 2xa0years to evaluate an efficient irrigation schedule for guava under mulch and no-mulch conditions. The experiment involved the effect of mulching and three irrigation threshold values [I1 (−20u2009u2009kPa); I2 (−40u2009u2009kPa); and I3 (−60u2009u2009kPa)] on guava plants under drip irrigation and fertigation. Soil matric potential, irrigation amount, soil water content, and fertilizer (N, P, and K) content were measured, and seasonal crop evapotranspiration as well as water and fertilizer use efficiency were computed regularly during the growing period of the crop. The calibrated two dimensional (2D)/three-dimensional (3D) model was used to simulate soil matric potential, and water and fertilizer movement in the soil under guava trees for mulch and no-mulch conditions. Simulated water movement, soil matric potential, and N, P, and K movement statistically matched those measured using the tensiometers, soil water probes, and soi...

Catchment delineation and morphometric analysis using geographical information system

The geographical information system (GIS) has emerged as an efficient tool in delineation of drainage patterns of watershed planning and management. The morphometric parameters of basins can address linear, areal and relief aspects. The study deals with the integrated watershed management of Baliya micro-watersheds, located in the Udaipur district of Rajasthan, India. Morphometric analysis in hydrological investigation is an important aspect and it is inevitable in the development and management of drainage basins. The determination of linear, areal and relief parameters indicate fairly good significance. The low value of the bifurcation ratio of 4.19 revealed that the drainage pattern has not been distorted by structural disturbance. The high value of the elongation ratio (0.68) compared to the circulatory ratio (0.27) indicates an elongated shape of the watershed. The high value of drainage density (5.39 km/km(2)) and stream frequency (12.32) shows that the region has impermeable subsoil material under poor vegetative cover with a low relief factor. The morphometric parameters of relief ratio (0.041) and relative relief (0.99%) show that the watershed can be treated using GIS techniques to determine the morphometric presence of dendritic drainage pattern, with a view to selecting the soil and water conservation measures and water harvesting.

Trends in Sunshine Duration in Humid Climate of Northeast India: A Case Study

In the present study, trends in sunshine duration were investigated using the Mann–Kendall test in different timescales under the humid climatic conditions of Dibrugarh (Assam), Northeast India. Statistically significant decreasing trends were observed in the sunshine duration in the range of (−)0.61 to (−)1.28 h/decade over Dibrugarh in different timescales: annual; seasonal: winter; and monthly: January, June, and November during the past 28 years from 1981 to 2008. On the other hand, the significant increasing trend in sunshine duration was observed at the rate of (+)0.69 h/decade in the month of September over Dibrugarh. The observed decreasing trends in sunshine duration support the existence of the phenomenon of dimming over Northeast India, which may affect the water requirements in the region.

Trends in Temperature for the Himalayan Environment of Leh (Jammu and Kashmir), India

Climate parameters variability affects significantly on water resources, and therefore on the livelihood of the common people, especially in water scarce countries. The aim of this study was to explore changes in the maximum, minimum, and mean temperatures using the monthly data of Leh taking last 15 years from 2000 to 2014, which is situated in the western Indian Himalaya. Trends analyses were performed with nonparametric statistics proposed by Mann-Kendall at different time scales in arid environments of Leh. On monthly basis, a significant falling trend in maximum temperature and minimum temperature has been observed at 5% significance level in the month of July at the rate of 1.7 °C per decade and in the month of August at the rate of 1.3 °C per decade, respectively. However, no trend has been observed in other time scales at 5% level of significance. The observed change in temperature will affect all biochemical reactions of photosynthesis thus in turn will have negative impact on plant growth.

Land suitability for paddy and maize in a watershed using remote sensing and Geographic Information System(GIS)

Land evaluation using a scientific procedure is essential to assess the potential and optimum utilization of the available land resources and sustainable agricultural production. The present study was conducted in Sind watershed (9423.20 ha) of district Ganderbal of Jammu and Kashmir to assess the suitability for land of paddy and maize. Land use/Land cover maps were also prepared to analyze the existing crops using ArcMap 10.2 software. The land suitability evaluation was carried out on the basis of parameters of soil depth, texture, slope, drainage and erosion. Each of these parameters were separately analyzed for their suitability for supporting paddy and maize crops based on the FAO crop requirements specified for them. Suitability maps for crop of paddy and maize were generated in ArcMap 10.2. From the suitability maps it was observed that out of total area of 9423.2 ha, about 88% is moderately suitable and 12% area (1153.6 ha) is marginally suitable for paddy cultivation. In case of maize, about 4.3% area (405.5 ha) is highly suitable, only 0.3% area (30ha) is moderately suitable, 89.6% area (8440.25ha) is marginally suitable and 5.8% area (547.45 ha) is not suitable for maize cultivation. The study revealed that satellite remote sensing(RS) and GIS technique has been found to be most essential tool for the land suitability