Not Available

Not AvailableMajor ion geochemistry was used to characterise the chemical composition of groundwater in part of semiarid Deccan plateau region to understand the geochemical evolution and to evaluate the groundwater quality for irrigation. The study area comprises peninsular gneissic complex of Archean age, younger granites and basaltic alluvium. Forty-nine georeferenced groundwater samples were collected and analysed for major ions. The ionic sequence based on relative proportions was Na+>Mg2+>Ca2+> SO42->HCO3->Cl->CO32->BO33->K+. High Na+,Mg2+ and Ca++ were generally associated with basaltic alluvial formation, whereas pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and total dissolved salts (TDS) were found to be higher in granitic formations. High standard deviation for EC, TDS, Na+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ indicated the dispersion of ionic concentration throughout the study area. Four major hydrochemical facies identified were Na-Mg-HCO3 type; Mg-Na-HCO3 type; Na-Mg-Ca-SO4 and Mg-Na-Ca-SO4 type. The graphical plots indicated that the groundwater chemistry was influenced by rock–water interaction, silicate weathering and reverse ion exchange. Sodium-dominated waters might have impeded the hydraulic properties of soils as a result of long-term irrigation.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableNot AvailableNot Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableLand degradation occurs in all the climatic regions, however, the adverse effects are more pronounced in the semiarid tropical (SAT) environments due to increasing aridity and water scarcity. Though natural processes can also cause land degradation, it is generally attributed to anthropogenic factors. In this study, we elucidate the role of climate and landscape driven soil forming processes in land degradation through a conceptual model. For this, morphological, physical, and chemical properties of the soils occurring in a part of the SAT Deccan Plateau region, India, were characterized. The trend of climatic variables, namely, the mean annual rainfall, potential evapotranspiration, and maximum summer temperature during the last century (1901–2010) showed that the increase in aridity negatively influenced the soil forming processes. The results showed that rainfall variability, temperature, potential evapotranspiration, and hydrological behaviour of the SAT soils were the primary drivers of the soil forming processes and they were identified through examination of the soil variability by factor analysis. The depth distribution of selected indicators (% clay, pH, calcium carbonate, exchangeable sodium percentage, exchangeable magnesium percentage, and hydraulic conductivity) indicated that the current pedogenic processes operating in the SAT environment caused the undesirable modification in soil properties. Through our conceptual model, we discuss the mechanism of the formation of pedogenic carbonate, subsoil sodicity, and subsequent reduction in hydraulic conductivity which leads to the land and vegetation degradation in the SAT environments.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableNot AvailableNot Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableNot AvailableNot Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableSoil wetness or soil moisture, highly variable in both time and space, has a major influence on a range of hydrological processes including flooding, erosion, solute transport and land—atmosphere interactions, as well as a range of geographic and pedogenic processes. Topography greatly affects the spatial distribution of soil moisture, and groundwater flow often follows surface topography. The topographic wetness index (TWI) is now widely used for predicting the spatial distribution of wetness conditions (Le. the position of shallow groundwater tables and soil moisture) and is usually calculated from digital elevation model (DEM). The resolution and information content of a DEM has a great influence on the computed topographic indices. Hence, in the present study, the topographic wetness index was estimated for the Puma River Basin in Akola and Amravati districts of Maharashtra using ASTER (30 m resolution) and SRTM (90 m resolution) DEMs, as the topography of the basin is well suited for this type of study. The specific catchment area (SCA), A, has the highest variation in the maximum values of SCA, i.e., 15109.0 and 2044.8 m2 in for SRTM and ASTER DEMs, respectively. This variation in SCA is due to the cell size and flow accumulation values. Similarly, there was significant difference in slope derived ASTER DEM (slope: <1 — 12.50%) and SRTM DEM (slope: <1 —2.33%). However, there was significant difference only in the minimum TWI values derived from ASTER DEM (minimum TWI: 2.59) and SRTM DEM (minimum TWI: 4.45). The non-significant difference was observed in the maximum TWI values (maximum TWI values derived from ASTER: 24.58 and SRTM: 24.60). The difference in the minimum TWI values may be attributed to the difference in resolution of the DEMs used. The information on TWIs, thus generated, will be useful in predicting the spatial distribution of soil moisture content, assessment of soil erosion and understanding the hydrological processes in a river basin.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableCrop productivity under rainfed farming systems in India is low due to poor water and nutrient management. The available small scale information of soil nutrients is inadequate to effectively manage individual farms held by small and marginal farmers. Large scale spatial variability assessment using grid sampling method is a feasible option to identify critical nutrient deficiency zones. The present study was conducted in a part of semi-arid tropical Deccan plateau region, India, to assess the spatial variability of soil pH, organic carbon (OC), soil available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and sulphur (S). A total of 1508 composite samples (0–15 cm) were collected by adopting 325 × 325 m grid interval (one sample for 10 ha area) and they were analysed for soil fertility parameters. Coefficient of variation (CV) indicated that OC, N, P, K and S were high in heterogeneity (CV > 35%). Moreover, pH, P, K and S were non-normally distributed and log transformation produced normalised dataset. The semivariogram parameters (nugget to sill ratio, range and slope) indicated that the spatial distribution of soil properties were inconsistent. The spatial variability of parameters were mapped by ordinary kriging using exponential (pH and OC) and spherical (N, P, K and S) models selected based on root mean square error (RMSE) and r2 values. Multi-nutrient deficiencies were observed in most parts of the study area and N was acutely deficient. Farm level nutrient availability status was derived from spatial variability maps and critical nutrient deficiency zones were identified. Nutrient management recommendations based on soil test results were delivered to farmers for adopting need based variable rate of fertilizer application. The generated maps can serve as an effective tool for farm managers and policy makers in site specific nutrient management.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableThe study was conducted to evaluate the major and micronutrient status of Kelapur block, Yavatmal district, Maharashtra. A total of 3436 soil samples were collected by gird method (325×325 interval) at a depth of 0-15 cm and analyzed for soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon (OC), available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sulphur (S) and micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn). Soils were neutral to slightly alkaline (pH 6.6 - 8.8) and non-saline (EC <1 dSm-1). OC was medium to high with a mean value of 0.83%. Among the nutrients, available N was invariably deficient (100%) and deficiency of available Zn (70%), S (59.7%), P (37.6%) and Fe (27.9%) were observed. The available K was generally high with a mean of 694 kg ha-1 and Mn and Cu were sufficient. Coefficient of variation (CV) indicated that P, K, S, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu varied highly (CV > 35%) whereas the variability of pH and N was low (CV < 15%). The nutrient index value (NIV) for N and S were low (1.0 and 1.5), medium for P (1.89) and high (2.86) for K. The generated nutrient status information can serve as an effective tool for farmers and policy makers in adoption of site specific nutrient management practices.Not Availabl

Development of phosphor containing functional coatings via cold atmospheric pressure plasma jet - Study of various operating parameters

In this study, we deposited phosphorous containing functional coatings on the surface of polypropylene (PP) substrate by cold atmospheric plasma assisted polymerization using low temperature plasma jet. Triisopropyl phosphate (TIP) was used as precursor while the coating process was carried out as a function of deposition potential and monomer flow rate. The influence of various plasma polymerization operating parameters on the surface properties of functional coatings are examined by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photo electron spectroscopy (XPS). The reactive species involved during the in-situ polymerization were studied by optical emission spectroscopy (OES). The variation in hydrophilic properties of the surface coated film was investigated by measuring contact angle. Furthermore, the stability of post-plasma polymerized films was evaluated by measuring contact angle values 15 days after storing in various ambient conditions (air and distilled water). The characterization results clearly exhibited that phosphorus containing functional films could be successfully deposited on the surface of PP films and the retention of the functional groups could be tuned within the framework of the operating parameters