Feature Article

A rich experience in ground-based inventory provides a solid basis for a multi-method approach to measuring forest degradation.

In the absence of historical field data, developing countries can rely on consistent current ground data and remote sensing assessments.

The concepts of Asia's traditional medicines might sound alien to Western ears, but some of them are starting to evolve to fit scientific investigation.

Biomass studies are fundamental to understand the dynamics of ecological systems and its distribution. It helps in determining the distribution and flow of materials in the ecosystems. The primary productivity of different vegetation types is of great importance for man as he is so much dependent upon plant products.

Twelve sewage and soil isolates belonging to genus Pseudomonas were screened for their ability to degrade and dechlorinate 2-chlorobenzoic acid (2-CBA), 3-chlorobenzoic acid (3-CBA) and 2,4-chlorobenzoic acid (2,4-DCBA). On the basis of growth of the isolates of three chlorobenzoates and their subsequent dechlorination rate, an aerobic Pseudomonas strain PNK-3 was selected for the study.

Effect of the leaf extracts of Alstonia scholaris and Calotropis procera on infestation and damage of the fruit fly in bitter gourd was studied.

The field investigations were carried out on sandy loam soil at the research farm, Department of Agricultural Meteorology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during rabi 2006-07 and 2007-08. Wheat is the premier cereal crop during rabi season in Punjab. In 2008-09, it was grown on 35.26 lac tonnes and per hectare yield of 44.62 quintals. Wheat needs cool climate during early part of its growth and warm temperature at this stage is unfavourable for tillering and promotes several diseases.

An experiment was conducted to study the phosphate adsorption-desorption behaviour of some paddy growing soils of Anantnag district of Kashmir. Representative soil samples (0-15 cm) were collected from thirteen locations of district under paddy.

Zinc (Zn) is the most important micronutrient required for sustainable crop production, particularly for rice and wheat crops. Therefore, on-farm trails (OFTs) were conducted at seventeen different locations during 2006-08 to evaluate the direct and residual application effect of Zn, applied through zinc sulphate heptahydrate under rice-wheat (RW) cropping sequence.

A pot experiment was conducted on a sandy loam soil (Typic ustochrepts) to assess the suitability of FYM in amelioration of Ni in maize on artificially contaminated soil.