Impacts of Climate Change on Agricultural Yield: Evidence from Odisha, India

This paper explores the impact of climate variables such as temperature and rainfall on yields of seven selected crops such as rice, maize, groundnuts, rapeseed & mustard, chickpea, Pigeonpea and sesame during the period 1970-2014. We used panel data for 45 years to assess the impact of climate change on agriculture yield. In the presence of auto-correlation and Heteroscedasticity we estimate the panel corrected standard error with a fixed effect panel regression. The regression results reinforce that crop yields of the selected crops are susceptible to climate change. The relative magnitude of rainfall and temperature changes appears to play a pivotal role in determining the direction of change in the yield. It is also observed that the rainfall has significant positive effects on the yields of all the selected crops under study. In case of temperature, we observed mix results for the selected crops under study. However, the extent of increase in the temperature appears to be more harmful for the crop yields. Further, the non-climatic factors like irrigation and fertilizers were found to be very instrumental in increasing the yields of the selected crops. In the light of negative effects of climate change, appropriate mitigation and adaptation strategies are required to delve with the deteriorative effects of climate change. Keywords: Climate Change, Crop Yield, Agriculture JEL Classification: Q18, Q51, Q5

Dynamics of a passive sliding particle on a randomly fluctuating surface

We study the motion of a particle sliding under the action of an external field on a stochastically fluctuating one-dimensional Edwards-Wilkinson surface. Numerical simulations using the single-step model shows that the mean-square displacement of the sliding particle shows distinct dynamic scaling behavior, depending on whether the surface fluctuates faster or slower than the motion of the particle. When the surface fluctuations occur on a time scale much smaller than the particle motion, we find that the characteristic length scale shows anomalous diffusion with $\xi(t)\sim t^{2\phi}$, where $\phi\approx 0.67$ from numerical data. On the other hand, when the particle moves faster than the surface, its dynamics is controlled by the surface fluctuations and $\xi(t)\sim t^{{1/2}}$. A self-consistent approximation predicts that the anomalous diffusion exponent is $\phi={2/3}$, in good agreement with simulation results. We also discuss the possibility of a slow cross-over towards asymptotic diffusive behavior. The probability distribution of the displacement has a Gaussian form in both the cases.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, error in reference corrected and new reference added, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Interactions of the channel forming peptide alamethicin with artificial and natural membranes

Alamethicin and related α-aminoisobutyric acid peptides form transmembrane channels across lipid bilayers. This article briefly reviews studies on the effect of alamethicin on lipid phase transitions in lipid bilayers and on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Fluorescence polarization studies, employing 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene as a probe, suggest that alamethicin fluidizes lipid bilayers below the phase transition t-emperature, but has little effect above the gel-liquid crystal transition point. Alamethicin is shown to function as an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation in rat liver mitochondria. The influence of alamethicin on mitochondrial respiration is modulated by the phosphate ion concentration in the medium. Classical uncoupling activity is evident at low phosphate levels while inhibitory effects set in at higher phosphate concentrations. Time-dependent changes in respiration rates following peptide addition are rationalized in terms of alamethicin interactions with mitochondrial membrane components

Effect of intra row spacing, dates of haulm cutting and fertilizer dose on disease free quality seed tuber production of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) under new Alluvial Zone of West Bengal

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)  is the most popular tuber crop in West Bengal, India. Seed tuber is the single most important factor in potato cultivation and if the seed is not of good quality, then optimum production could not be achieved. Unavailability of good quality seed, high price and untimely supply of seed at the village level are the main limiting factors in potato production. Field experiments were conducted during rabi season of 2017-18 and 2018-19 at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Kalyani, West Bengal to determine the effects of intra row spacing, dates of haulm cutting and fertilizer dose on disease free quality seed grade tuber production of potato. The experiment was laid out in a split split plot design with three replications having twelve treatment combinations. The results revealed that with the decrease in intra row spacing from 20cm to 15cm seed grade size (< 75g) tuber yield and numbers and total tuber numbers were significantly increased but marketable grade (> 75 g) tuber yield and numbers were significantly reduced. Haulm cutting at 65 DAP increased the seed grade size tuber yield and numbers over 75 DAP. With the decrease in fertility levels from 100% RDF of NPK to 50% RDF of NPK the seed grade tuber production and number were significantly increased at 5% level of significance. Disease incidence and intensity of Phoma leaf spot decreased and early blight increased with decreasing doses of fertilizers. No viral disease was observed. Dehaulming at 65 DAP was found safer so far as infestation and chances of viral disease transmission by the sucking pests were concerned. From the present study it may be concluded that, for quality seed tuber production of potato and to get highest net return under New Alluvial Zone of West Bengal, use of 50cm X 15cm spacing along with haulm cutting at 65 DAP, when planting is done on first week of November and grown with 50% RDF of NPK was found best

Vulnerability of Agriculture to Climate Shocks in Odisha, India

This paper explores the vulnerability of agriculture to climate shocks in Odisha, India and also shows the loss of agricultural crops and productivity due to extreme climate events like droughts, floods and cyclones. Climate change and climate shocks affect different sectors, and livelihoods of population differently depending on the adaptive capacity. Using secondary data, the study analyses the agricultural vulnerability to the increasing climate shocks and present a historical picture of climate shocks that took place in the state of Odisha during last few decades. It is observed that climate shocks are increasing and it is affecting agriculture sector to a large extent leading to the vulnerability of agricultural dependent communities. Analyzing the vulnerability of agriculture to climate shocks, the study also explored the possibility to adapt the shocks and suggested some adaptation strategies to reduce the agricultural vulnerability. Keywords: Climate Change, Vulnerability, Agricultur

A Survey on Health Science Researchers: Their need and Information Seeking Behavior in Academic Context

E-resources are now commonly used for academic and research activities. The present health science researchers are interested for CAS and SDI services. This study is designed about to know the information sources, use habits of researchers and mostly the preference of online resources. The output result of this study indicates that the researchers up-date / up-grade themselves for learning habit with information development skill through e-library also