Multilayered feed forward Artificial Neural Network model to predict the average summer-monsoon rainfall in India

In the present research, possibility of predicting average summer-monsoon rainfall over India has been analyzed through Artificial Neural Network models. In formulating the Artificial Neural Network based predictive model, three layered networks have been constructed with sigmoid non-linearity. The models under study are different in the number of hidden neurons. After a thorough training and test procedure, neural net with three nodes in the hidden layer is found to be the best predictive model.Comment: 19 pages, 1 table, 3 figure

Efeitos de reguladores vegetais no desenvolvimento e na produtividade do amendoinzeiro (Arachis hypogaea L.) Effects of growth regulators on groundnut development (Arachis hypogaea L.)

O trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de determinar a ação de substâncias de crescimento no desenvolvimento e produtividade do amendoinzeiro, sob condições de casa de vegetação. Plantas de Arachis hypogaea cv. Tatu-53, providas de 4 folhas definitivas, foram pulverizadas com chlormequat 2000 ppm, daminozide 4000 ppm, ácido giberélico 100 ppm, ácido indolilacético 100 ppm, além do controle. Foram determinados: altura das plantas, número de hastes, número de entrenós, comprimento do segundo e quarto entrenós, e o número de folhas. Também foram verificados os números de flores, de frutos e de sementes; peso dos frutos, das sementes, da matéria seca da parte aérea e da matéria seca das raízes do amendoinzeiro. Os resultados obtidos revelaram que daminozide 4000 ppm reduziu a altura, o número de entrenós na haste principal e o comprimento do quarto entrenó. Este produto também aumentou o número de folhas, atrasou a florescência, aumentou o número de flores e tendeu a aumentar o peso seco da parte aérea do amendoinzeiro. Pulverização com chlormequat 2000 ppm e ácido indolilacético 100 ppm, diminuiu a altura da planta e o comprimento do quarto entrenó da haste principal do amendoinzeiro.<br>This research deals with the effects of plant growth regulators on groundnut growth (Arachis hypogaea L. cv. Tatu-53). Plants of groundnut with four leaves grown in pots under greenhouse conditions, were sprayed with chlormequat 2000 ppm, daminozide 4000 ppm, gibberellic acid 100 ppm, indolylacetic acid 100 ppm, mid check treatment. Daminozide 4000 ppm reduced plant height, internode number and the length of the fourth internode. Daminozide increased the number of leaves, retarded flowering, increased the number of flowers and presented a tendency to increase the dry weight of stems. Chlormequat 2000 ppm and indolylacetic acid 100 ppm reduced plant height and the lenght of the fourth internode of the groundnut plant stem

New vegetation type map of India prepared using satellite remote sensing: comparison with global vegetation maps and utilities

A seamless vegetation type map of India (scale 1: 50,000) prepared using medium-resolution IRS LISS-III images is presented. The map was created using an on-screen visual interpretation technique and has an accuracy of 90%, as assessed using 15,565 ground control points. India has hitherto been using potential vegetation/forest type map prepared by Champion and Seth in 1968. We characterized and mapped further the vegetation type distribution in the country in terms of occurrence and distribution, area occupancy, percentage of protected area (PA) covered by each vegetation type, range of elevation, mean annual temperature and precipitation over the past 100 years. A remote sensing-amenable hierarchical classification scheme that accommodates natural and semi-natural systems was conceptualized, and the natural vegetation was classified into forests, scrub/shrub lands and grasslands on the basis of extent of vegetation cover. We discuss the distribution and potential utility of the vegetation type map in a broad range of ecological, climatic and conservation applications from global, national and local perspectives. Weused 15,565 ground control points to assess the accuracy of products available globally (i.e., GlobCover, Holdridge’s life zone map and potential natural vegetation (PNV) maps). Hence we recommend that the map prepared herein be used widely. This vegetation type map is the most comprehensive one developed for India so far. It was prepared using 23.5m seasonal satellite remote sensing data, field samples and information relating to the biogeography, climate and soil. The digital map is now available through a web portal (http://bis.iirs.gov.in)