Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in the coastal districts of Odisha

Ethnobotanical study was carried out in the coastal districts of Odisha during 2010-2011 to document the medicinal utility of plants. The present paper deals with traditional uses of 46 plant species belonging to 44 genera and 32 families along with correct botanical identification, local names, parts used and mode of administration in respect to different diseases.  The documented ethnomedicinal plants are mostly used to cure skin diseases, diarrhoea, jaundice, piles and urinary troubles

Water and nitrogen interaction on soil profile water extraction and ET in maize-wheat cropping system

In the present study, water and nitrogen interaction on soil profile water extraction and evapo-transpiration (ET) was investigated taking a field experiment on a clay loam soil (Typic Haplustept) at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi with four consecutive crops (maize-wheat-maize-wheat) taken from July 2002 to April 2004. Three levels of water regime, namely W1, W2 and W3 referring to limited, medium and maximum irrigation were applied to each crop depending on the seasonal rainfall and the critical crop growth stage. The three water regimes were used with five nitrogen levels from T1 to T5, (T1, 0% N; T2, 75% N; T3, 100% N; T4, 150% N; T5, 100% N from organic source) in a split plot design for the four crops grown in sequence. Significant water and nitrogen interaction was observed for ET and soil profile water extraction pattern. Averaged across nitrogen treatments, ET in W2 and W3 were higher by 17 and 26%, respectively than W1 in maize 2002 and by 12 and 19% in maize 2003. In case of wheat, ET in W2 and W3 were higher by 27 and 58% than W1 in 1st crop and by 37 and 70% in 2nd crop. The effect of nitrogen regime, however, was prominent in both crops of maize and wheat, with significantly higher profile soil moisture depletion in T4 of each water regime. In all cases, lowest water depletion was observed in control plots receiving 0% N. In both crops, water extraction from surface 60 cm was highest in W3 followed by W2 and W1. In maize, the % extraction from 0 to 60 cm layer varied from 71 to 76% (W1), 70-79% (W2) and 75-82% (W3), whereas the values for wheat were 70-77, 72-79 and 75-83% for W1, W2 and W3, respectively. The 90-120 cm layer contributed only 3-14% to total water extraction in both the crops. From 90 to 120 cm layer, higher extraction was observed in W1 as compared to W3. The extraction values in W1, W2 and W3 in maize were 9-13, 7-14 and 3-9, respectively, whereas the corresponding values in wheat were 8-14, 5-12 and 3-7% for the three water regimes. Effect of nitrogen treatments on water extraction from deeper layer was observed with higher extraction in highest fertilized treatment (T4) as compared to other treatments.Maize Wheat Evapo-transpiration Water extraction Water Nitrogen

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Not AvailableSoil and water conservation along with crop productivity improvement is indispensable for sustainable development of rainfed areas. Integration of suitable fruit trees within the cropping system can reduce risk allied with rainfed farming. The system of raising multi-height plant species with agricultural crops known as multitier agroforestry system was assessed (2007–2010) for resource conservation and production potential in rainfed conditions of Eastern Ghats region in India. Thirty experimental plots, each of 18 9 12 m dimension with 2 % slope having different multitier agroforestry treatments were assessed for soil erosion, nutrient loss and crop yield. Results revealed that multitier plantation of drumstick (Moringa oleifera) with Gliricidia sepium hedgerow and ginger (Zingiber officinale): pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) (8:2) intercropping enumerated minimum mean runoff (8.26 %) and soil loss (3.45 Mg ha-1 ). This treatment saved 74 % more soil organic carbon, 64 % more phosphorus and 66 % more potassium, respectively than broadcasted finger millet cultivation (traditional farmers’ practice). An increase of 24–27 % drumstick fruit yield was observed in Gliricidia hedgerow based multitier agroforestry systems over non-Gliricidia systems. The findings will contribute as a technical reference for the promotion of hedgerow based multitier agroforestry for resource conservation and fertility restoration of sloping landsNot Availabl

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Climate change effects on productivity of Soybean-wheat cropping system: a case study

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