Climatic and Fruit Productivity Trends in Solan District, Himachal Pradesh, India

The shortened duration of the winter season in the Himalayan region caused by snow melting has a negative impact on fruit crop growth and productivity. The present study focused on examining the impact of climate change on fruit crops in the Solan district of Himachal Pradesh, India, situated in the Himalayan region. The trend analysis of climatic variables (temperature and rainfall) along with the productivity of fruit crops was investigated. The climate data spanning 30 years (1990–2019), including average temperature (maximum, minimum, and diurnal) and annual rainfall used during crop development stages like pre-flowering, flowering, and fruit-setting stages. To evaluate climatic trends, the Standardized Anomaly Index (SAI) and Mann-Kendall Test for quantification were employed. The Multivariate Linear Regression Analysis was performed to establish a correlation between climatic variables and crop productivity. The findings indicated that during the pre-flowering stage, there was a gradual increase in average maximum temperature at a rate of 0.001°C per year, along with a corresponding rise in diurnal temperature at a rate of 0.036°C per year. However, annual rainfall and average minimum temperature exhibited non-significant decreasing trends, with rates of -0.044°C and -0.033 mm, respectively. During the flowering stage, there was a significant increase in minimum temperature at a rate of 0.151°C per year, while diurnal temperature exhibited a significant decrease of -0.158°C per year. Other variables did not exhibit substantial changes during this stage. In the fruit-setting stage, only the minimum temperature demonstrated a significant decrease over the study period. The response to climate change revealed an overall positive trend for all fruit crops, leading to higher productivity. The correlation study indicated that the phenological stages of each crop were more positively influenced by temperature than rainfall, owing to existing climatic variations. The current climatic conditions in the Solan district were found to be favorable and productive for crop development, as all crops showed increased productivity based on the trend analysis. The study highlights climatic trends and their impact on the productivity of fruit crops in the Himalayan region, which is useful for agricultural planning and adaptation strategies in response to changing climatic conditions.

Assessment of water quality in disease burdened industrializing town of mid hills of North India

Background: Anthropogenic activities associated with rapid urbanization and industrialization have deteriorated the water quality across the world. Rampant industrialization and poor water, sanitation and hygiene in an industrializing town of northern India necessitated the assessment of drinking water in the region. Methods: The study of physico-chemical parameter of the water and water quality index of the most commonly used ten drinking water sources in 2017-2018 was undertaken. Grab water samples were collected during monsoon, the rainy season (June, July and August) and post monsoon (September, October and November) during the years 2017 and 2018 by following the standard procedures. Weighted arithmetic index method was used for the water quality index (WQI) analysis. Results: Pooled analysis inferred water pH, temperature, total dissolved solids and carbonated oxygen demand to be within, whereas, electrical conductivity (91.00-431.50 µS/cm), turbidity (1.00-4.30 mg/l), dissolved oxygen (6.53-7.23 mg/l) and biological oxygen demand (6.12-7.62 mg/l), exceeding the Bureau of Indian standards permissible limits. Calcium, nitrate, chlorides and zinc were within limits, magnesium concentrations (9.16-29.35 mg/l) were below whereas lead (0.06-0.62 mg/l), chromium (0.01-0.12 mg/l), cadmium (0.00-0.25 mg/l) and mercury (0.00-0.08 mg/l) were above the standards. WQI was above 50 in all the drinking water sources. Conclusions: Water was of poor quality and unsuitable for drinking purposes, indicating alarming water pollution. WQI of the various drinking water sources of the region deteriorated more in the monsoon season as compared to the post monsoon season.

Steroidal feedback on photoperiodic induction of testicular growth and development in two bird species.

Present study was performed to demonstrate the effect of exogenous administration of testosterone propionate on photoperiodic induction of testicular growth and development in brahminy myna (Sturnus pagodarum) and baya weaver (Ploceus philippinus). Two groups of brahminy myna and baya weaver (n=5 each) were exposed to15L:9D (group-I) and 9L:15D (group-II), and received 30 µg of TP bird-1 for 15 days. Then, the photoperiod was reversed; the one receiving15L was exposed to 9L and vice versa. Observations on body mass and testis volume were taken at the beginning and at 15 days interval. In brahminy myna, a significant change in body mass occurred under 9L:15D, transfer to 15L:9D, but not under 15L:9D group, transfer to 9L:15D. Also, testes were stimulated under 15L:9D transferred to 9L:15D, but not under 9L:15D transferred to 15L:9D. In baya weaver, body mass increased under 15L:9D and 9L:15D for first 15 days and was maintained until the end of the experiment. Testes enlarged gradually in both groups (15L:9D and 9L:15D transfer to vice versa), but it regressed in 15L:9D group, transferred to 9L:15D after 45 days. Taken together it appears that body mass response indicates the photoperiodic effect and gonadal response indicates the hormonal effect. Finally results conclude that the photoperiod and circulating testosterone levels feedback on to hypothalamus regulates reproductive cycle in these birds.

Response to complete and skeleton photoperiods in subtropical male house sparrow, Passer domesticus (Linnaeus).

To examine the importance of the inductive light period of a skeleton photoperiod in relation to the endogenous circadian rhythm of photoinducibility mediating photoperiodic induction, P. domesticus were exposed for 28 weeks to a series of skeleton photoperiods, viz. 6L:4D:1L:13D, 6L:6D:1L:11D. 6L:8D:1L:9D and 6L:14D:1L:3D. The inductive effects of 1 hr light pulse at night varied depending on the time of its placement. To compare the inductive effects of complete and its corresponding skeleton photoperiods, birds in the second experiment were subjected for 20 weeks to 12L:12D and 6L:5D:1L:12D given daily or interposed on alternate days with constant darkness (12L:12D/DD and 6L:5D:1L:12D/DD). There was a difference in the rate and magnitude of response between the complete and skeleton photoperiods. It appears that the subtropical house sparrow uses photoperiodic strategy in regulation of its seasonal testicular responses similar to that is reported for its temperate population.

Effect of a composite Indian herbal preparation, CIHP(III) on avoidance learning during endurance performance of rats.

A nine week cross over study (5 weeks drug administration and 4 weeks withdrawal) was performed to see the effect of a composite Indian herbal preparation (CIHP III), viz. Mentat, on avoidance learning during endurance performance of albino rats. Runimex, a circular runway was used for this purpose. The number of stimuli viz. electrical shock of 10 mv, in drug treated rats at an oral dose of 47.86 mg/100 g body wt/single dose/day for 5 days were significantly reduced as compared to rats not taking any drug. The number of stimuli decreased significantly when the drug was started in the control group. No change in avoidance learning was observed over the period of 9 weeks in another group of rats. Results indicate significant improvement in avoidance learning during endurance performance due to the intake of CIHP(III).

Effect of age on susceptibility of carcinogen benzidine-hydrochloride.

Susceptibility of carcinogen (benzidine hydrochloride) was checked by degranulation technique in rats of three different (young, adult and old) age groups. The dose response curves of these three different groups showed different per cent degranulation. Comparative data of dose response of benzidine hydrochloride observed on the basis of RNA/Protein ratio basis showed that old animals were more susceptible to carcinogens than young and adult animals.