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Not AvailableTwelve lactating Sahiwal cows were divided into three equal groups on the basis of milk yield (mean 8.39 L/day), parity and body weight. All the animals were fed concentrate mixture along with wheat straw and green oats (Concentrate mixture and roughages as 50:50; green oat and wheat straw as 60:40) as total mixed ration for 126 days. While group T1 was fed ration consisting of concentrate mixture without any additional mineral mixture and common salt, group T2 had 2 % mineral mixture and 1 % salt in their concentrate mixture and group T3 had 20 % seaweed (Sargassum wightii) in their concentrate mixture without additional mineral mixture and salt. A metabolism trial of 7 days collection period was conducted on all the experimental animals after 56 days of experiment. The results showed that there were no significant changes in nutrient intake and digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, crude fibre and ether extract. Similarly, there were no significant changes in milk composition (protein, fat, lactose, solid-not-fat) in different treatment groups. However, seaweed supplemented group had significantly (P < 0.05) higher milk yield and 4 % fat corrected milk yield than the other groups. Thus, incorporation of brown seaweed in the diet of lactating Sahiwal cows to the extent of 20 % in concentrate mixture increased their milk yieldNot Availabl

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Not AvailableSeaweeds are rich in minerals. The present experiment was designed to see the effect of replacing minerals and a part of concentrate mixture (CM) by seaweed in cows. Sahiwal cows (n = 12) were randomly blocked into three equal groups on the basis of milk yield (mean 8.39 L/day) and parity. Animals were offered concentrate mixtures along with wheat straw and green oat as total mixed ration (CM and roughages as 50:50; green oat and wheat straw as 60:40) for 126 days. Control animals (T1) were offered CM without mineral and salt premix; group T2 animals had 2 % mineral premix and 1 % salt in their CM while seaweed group (T3) had 20 % seaweed in their CM without additional mineral and salt. The results revealed no significant changes in plasma mineral profile and mineral metabolism except that of copper and zinc (P < 0.01) in the groups without mineral and salt (T1, T3). Milk mineral profile remained similar in all treatment groups except milk phosphorus, copper and zinc which were highest in T2 followed by T1 and T3. A clear trend was reflected in mineral metabolism and its status in blood and milk corresponding to that of dietary mineral composition. Thus, incorporation of brown seaweed in the diet of lactating Sahiwal cows (20 % in concentrate mixture) did not affect mineral metabolism and blood–milk mineral profiles, except copper and zinc; which need to be additionally supplemented in the diet.Not Availabl

Hydrochemical Characterization of Some Stands of Isoetes dixitei in India

In the present study soil, water and plant samples were collected from seven different natural populations of I. dixitei which are found growing on the tablelands of Satara and Kolhapur districts of Maharashtra, India. The collected soil and water samples have been analysed for the colour, texture, available plant nutrients, electrical conductivity, pH and BOD. The soil and water factors along with biotic factors are compared with the number of plants per m2, length of plants, number of leaves and roots per plant to understand the morphological diversity and biology within different populations of I. dixitei. The result of present analysis reveals that these ecological factors such as organic carbon, iron, phosphorus and potassium in soil and low pH of soil and water have positive relationship with the growth, robustness and diversity of I. dixitei. However, copper, zinc and electrical conductivity in the soil have negative significant role in influencing the plant characters. The role of manganese appears to be not significant. The biological factors play major role in controlling the diversity (number of plants per m2) of this taxon

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Not AvailableWe record here the recent occurrence, abundance and distribution of six exotic fish species, viz. Oreochromis mossambicus, Cyprinus carpio, Hypopthalmicthys molitrix, Ctenopharyngodon idellus, Clarias gariepinus, and Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus (a new exotic in India) distributed through the four important tributaries of river Ganga basin in India. From the total catch, the abundance index of all exotic species in different rivers ranged from 1.1 to 14.5 % with highest value in River Gomti. The relative abundance of the exotic species in all the four tributaries demonstrated that a single species C. carpio contributed a considerable abundance (43.3–83 %) than that of the remaining exotic fishes. The Common Carp, C. carpio, was ubiquitous in all the four tributaries of Ganges basin studied and had the highest local distribution (52.63 %). Smaller size groups of endangered (Chagunius chagunio, Chitala chitala, and Tor tor) and migratory species (Bagarius bagarius, Ompok pabda, Wallago attu, and Sperata aor) in the four tributaries were recorded, and the increasing appearance of Common Carp and other exotic fishes is signaling biological invasion. Possible threats to the indigenous fish fauna, as a result of the invasion and proliferation of these exotics, are discussed.Not Availabl

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RELATIONSHIP AMONG DIFFERENT FORMS OF SOIL POTASSIUM AND AVAILABILITY AS INFLUENCED BY THE CONTRASTING MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN APPLE (MALUS DOMESTICA BORKH.) ORCHARDS OF KUMAON REGIONThe distribution of K forms (water soluble, exchangeable, non-exchangeable, mineral and total K) in two apple (cv. Royal Delicious) orchards differing in fertilizer management practices located in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand was investigated. The apple orchard at Mukteshwar is managed by the conventional fertilizer management practice, and the other at Dutkanedhar is managed organically. At Mukteshwar, the distribution of water soluble, exchangeable, non-exchangeable, mineral and total K was 0.23, 0.86, 5.46, 78.2, and 86.7 cmol kg-1, respectively. Further, soil analysis revealed that both the soils contain very high levels of available K (>350 mg kg-1). Leaf K content in orchard of Dutkanedhar was deficient (0.81%) with the appearance of K deficiency symptoms as necrotic leaf edges; whereas, the same at Mukteshwar was recorded as sufficient (1.93%). The positive and significant correlations were observed between available and water soluble (r= 0.78), available and exchangeable (r= 0.45), exchangeable and non-exchangeable (r= 0.33), non-exchangeable and mineral (r=0.77) and mineral and total K (r= 0.95) in the orchard of Mukteshwar. It was concluded that K requirement in apple could not be satisfied entirely through addition of organic manures only, and thus, K fertilization is indispensable.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableThe labile organic carbon (C) and C-related enzymes are sensitive indicators capturing alterations of soil organic matter (SOM), even in a short-time scale. Although the effects of crop husbandry and land use change on these attributes have been well studied, there is no consensus about how plant phenology may impact them. This study aimed to determine the short-term effect of six distinct phenological stages of peach (PS–1: full bloom; PS–2: fruit set; PS–3: pit hardening; PS–4: physiological maturity; PS–5:60 d after physiological maturity; and PS–6: fall) on the changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions of different oxidizability, labile C pools, and C-cycle enzyme activities in soils, for two consecutive years (2015 and 2016) in the North-Western Himalayas (NWH). Peach rhizosphere soils were sampled at the topsoil (0–15 cm) and subsoil (16–30 cm) layers, along with rhizosphere soils from adjacent perennial grass, which served as control. Values for most of the assessed parameters, including very labile C, labile C, microbial biomass C, permanganate oxidizable-C, dissolved organic C, mineralizable C, amylase activity, and carboxymethyl–cellulase activity, were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher at PS–3 than at other phenological stages of peach. Conversely, a sudden decline in these soil variables was recorded at PS–5, followed by a slight buildup at PS–6, particularly in the topsoil of the peach orchard. Short-term changes in organic C fractions of different oxidizability, influenced by peach phenological stage, significantly (P ≤ 0.05) affected C management index, C pool index, and lability index. Both the C management index and lability index showed their highest values at PS–3 and their lowest values PS–5 clearly indicating short-term accretion and depletion of SOC, in tandem with the peach phenological events. Principal component analysis suggested a composite of soil indicators, including microbial biomass C, dissolved organic C, amylase, and invertase, could help detect short-term changes in SOC content. It is concluded that peach phenological events had a major impact on the short-term variations of the studied soil variables, which could be attributed to changes in the above- and below-ground plant residues, as well as the extent of nutrients and water acquisition.Not Availabl