International Journal of Environment and Climate Change

Urban Green Infrastructure and Community Forestry: A Comparative Analysis of Approaches in the United Kingdom and India

2026-07-04T13:24:36+00:00

Urban green infrastructure (UGI) and community forestry represent complementary yet contextually distinct responses to the ecological and social challenges of rapid urbanisation. As cities expand globally, the provision and governance of urban tree cover, green corridors, and participatory forest management have attracted growing scholarly and policy attention. This article presents a critical comparative review of UGI development and community forestry practice in two contrasting national contexts: the United Kingdom (UK) and India. The UK has developed mature statutory frameworks for green infrastructure (GI) planning, embedded within spatial planning legislation and reinforced by National Forest programmes, urban tree strategies, and biodiversity obligations. India, by contrast, relies on a mosaic of decentralised governance arrangements—including Joint Forest Management (JFM) and the Van Panchayat (VP) system—that have shaped the interface between community institutions, municipal authorities, and forest resources over a century. Drawing on peer-reviewed literature published primarily between January 2000 and March 2026, this review examines the ecosystem services delivered by urban forests and GI in each country, the governance architectures underpinning their management, community participation models, equity dimensions, and the transferability of lessons across divergent contexts. The analysis reveals that the UK's planning-led approach achieves structural coherence but struggles with social inclusion and biodiversity mainstreaming, whilst India's decentralised models generate community ownership but remain fragmented and under-resourced in urban settings. Critical research gaps persist in monitoring, standardised ecosystem service valuation, and intercountry policy learning. Future frameworks should integrate adaptive governance with robust spatial data systems and deliberate equity targeting.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Precision Agriculture: Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions

2026-07-04T13:29:43+00:00

Precision agriculture has shifted from a sensor-driven discipline into a data-driven one, with artificial intelligence and machine learning now embedded in crop monitoring, disease and weed management, irrigation scheduling, soil assessment, robotics, and farm decision support. This review synthesises the state of artificial intelligence and machine learning applications across the precision agriculture value chain, drawing on peer-reviewed literature published between January 2018 to March 2026, supplemented by a small number of earlier foundational studies. The review traces the evolution from conventional algorithms such as random forests and support vector machines toward deep convolutional and recurrent architectures, and more recently toward transformer-based models, vision-language systems, and large language models adapted for agronomic reasoning. Five themes receive particular attention: crop monitoring and yield forecasting; detection and management of diseases, pests, and weeds; soil, water, and nutrient management; remote sensing and robotic field operations; and the data infrastructure, including the Internet of Things, big data analytics, and federated learning, that underpins these applications. The review also examines the economic and socio-political dimensions of adoption, particularly the disparities between well-resourced and smallholder farming systems, alongside the ethical and governance questions raised by farm data ownership and algorithmic transparency. The discussion closes with an assessment of emerging directions, including explainable artificial intelligence, privacy-preserving learning, and generative model integration, and concludes by identifying methodological gaps that constrain translation of laboratory performance into field-scale reliability. The review is intended for agricultural scientists, data scientists, and policymakers seeking a structured, critically evaluated synthesis of where artificial intelligence currently stands in precision agriculture and where it is heading.

Polyphasic Approaches in Apple Rootstock Propagation: Integrating Conventional and Advanced Strategies for Climate-Resilient Horticulture

2026-07-07T10:55:32+00:00

Apple (Malus domestica) cultivation depends almost entirely on clonally propagated rootstocks to confer uniformity, size control, precocity and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. As climatic variability intensifies, the nursery and breeding sectors face mounting pressure to reconcile time-honoured propagation methods, such as mound layering, hardwood cuttings and field grafting, with rapidly evolving biotechnological tools, including micropropagation, genomic selection and genome editing. This review adopts a polyphasic perspective, examining how conventional vegetative propagation techniques and advanced molecular and tissue-culture-based strategies can be combined within a single, coherent production pipeline to deliver climate-resilient apple rootstocks at commercial scale. The physiological and anatomical basis of adventitious root formation is synthesised alongside the hormonal, transcriptional and epigenetic networks that govern rooting competence in difficult-to-root dwarfing genotypes. Genomic advances, including the identification of dwarfing loci and haplotype-resolved rootstock genomes, are considered together with marker-assisted and genome-editing approaches that promise to accelerate the breeding of rootstocks combining ease of propagation with stress tolerance. Particular attention is given to drought, waterlogging, heat, cold and salinity tolerance, as well as to apple replant disease and rhizosphere microbiome interactions, which collectively determine orchard establishment success under changing climatic conditions. The review further explores how virus elimination, mycorrhizal inoculation, biostimulant application and bioreactor-based micropropagation can be integrated with conventional nursery operations to improve propagation efficiency without compromising genetic fidelity. By drawing together physiological, molecular and applied horticultural evidence, this synthesis aims to inform researchers, breeders and nursery practitioners seeking to design propagation systems capable of sustaining global apple production under future climatic scenarios.

Protective Wearable Cooling Gear to Combat Heat Stress among Workers: A Critical Narrative Review

2026-07-07T11:11:49+00:00

Occupational heat stress has become one of the more pressing safety concerns in today's world of work. Rising ambient temperatures, increasingly frequent heatwaves, and the continued need for many workers to perform physically demanding tasks while wearing insulating protective clothing have combined to push large numbers of outdoor and indoor labourers close to the limits of human thermoregulation. Personal cooling garments have emerged as a practical, comparatively low-cost complement to engineering controls such as air-conditioning and shading, particularly where environmental modification of the workplace is simply not feasible or affordable. This review critically examines the literature on wearable cooling technologies designed to mitigate occupational heat strain, covering their underlying engineering principles, their physiological and perceptual efficacy, their performance across different occupational sectors, their convergence with physiological monitoring, and the human and organisational factors that shape whether they are actually used. The evidence suggests that conductive systems based on phase-change materials and pre-cooled liquids, together with hybrid garments combining several heat-exchange pathways, offer the most consistent reductions in core temperature and heart rate, whereas purely evaporative and radiative garments produce a smaller physiological benefit while still often improving thermal comfort. Field evidence from construction, agriculture, mining, and firefighting broadly supports laboratory findings, though with considerable variation linked to clothing insulation, workload, environmental humidity, and how long a garment is actually worn. Smart textiles and wearable physiological sensors are increasingly being used to personalise cooling delivery and to flag rising heat strain before it becomes dangerous, although this remains an early-stage technology from an occupational-validation standpoint. Persistent barriers to uptake include cost, weight, limited operating duration, and worker concerns about comfort and practicality, all of which interact with workplace culture and supervisory support. The review concludes that wearable cooling gear is a genuinely useful but imperfect tool: it reduces physiological and perceptual strain without removing the need for hydration, acclimatisation, sensible work–rest scheduling, and broader climate-adaptive labour policy.

Climate-Smart Nanotechnology for Sustainable Soil Fertility and Agricultural Productivity: A Review

2026-07-07T11:18:33+00:00

Climate change, degradation of natural resources, and increasing global demand for food create substantial challenges for sustainable farming systems. In this context, climate-smart nanotechnology has emerged as a promising interdisciplinary approach that can support soil fertility, improve crop performance, and promote environmental sustainability. This review critically examines how nanotechnology contributes to climate-smart agriculture, with particular attention to soil fertility management, enhanced nutrient-use efficiency, crop stress tolerance, precision farming, and soil remediation.

Nano-fertilisers improve nutrient availability and uptake efficiency through controlled release and targeted delivery, thereby reducing losses through leaching, volatilisation, and runoff. Nano-sensors enable near-real-time monitoring of soil and plant conditions and support precision agriculture and informed input management. In addition, nanomaterials can improve plant tolerance to abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, and heat by influencing physiological and biochemical processes. Nano-based remediation strategies can also support the restoration of affected soils through adsorption, immobilisation, and catalytic degradation of contaminants. Despite these benefits, climate-smart nanotechnology presents several challenges, including possible nanoparticle toxicity, ecological risks, high production costs, regulatory constraints, and limited awareness among farmers. Future research should focus on eco-friendly green synthesis routes, biodegradable nanomaterials, and integration with advanced systems such as artificial intelligence, remote sensing, and the Internet of Things (IoT). With appropriate risk assessment, policy support, and field validation, climate-smart nanotechnology has considerable potential to support sustainable agriculture and strengthen food security under changing climatic conditions.

Biochar in Soil Fertility Management: A Review of Agronomic Benefits, Mechanisms and Practical Applications

2026-07-08T09:03:55+00:00

Biochar, a carbon-rich solid produced through oxygen-limited pyrolysis of biomass, is increasingly considered a soil amendment for sustainable soil fertility management. Indian agriculture faces continuing pressure from soil degradation, declining soil organic carbon, nutrient depletion, crop-residue burning and climate variability, all of which constrain productivity and resource-use efficiency. This review synthesises literature and field-based evidence relevant to the use of biochar in Indian soil-crop systems. It discusses biochar production through slow, fast and flash pyrolysis using crop residues, woody biomass, and livestock or poultry manure at 300–700 °C, and relates these production conditions to key properties, including porosity, specific surface area, alkaline pH, fixed carbon content and nutrient composition. The review also examines the principal mechanisms through which biochar improves soil fertility, including modification of bulk density, water-holding capacity, aggregate stability, cation exchange capacity, soil reaction, nutrient retention and microbial activity. Evidence reviewed here indicates that biochar can reduce nutrient leaching, influence nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics, contribute to soil carbon sequestration, and mitigate selected greenhouse gas emissions, although responses depend on feedstock, pyrolysis conditions, soil type and crop requirement. Field observations from India suggest that applications within the range of 5–20 t ha⁻¹ can improve the productivity of rice, wheat, maize, legumes, oilseeds, plantation crops and vegetables, with stronger responses generally reported in acidic, sandy and degraded soils. The review further identifies practical constraints to adoption, including production cost, inconsistent product quality, limited standardisation, insufficient extension support and variable soil-crop compatibility. Integrating biochar with integrated nutrient management and decentralised residue management may support more sustainable soil fertility strategies in India.

Climate Change Impacts on Fruit Crop Productivity: Phenological Disruption, Reproductive Failure and Quality Trade-offs under Rising Temperature

2026-07-09T12:25:51+00:00

Climate change, particularly rising temperature, has emerged as a major constraint on fruit crop productivity worldwide. This review synthesises current knowledge on how elevated temperatures influence phenological development, reproductive processes, source–sink relationships and fruit quality in perennial horticultural systems. Fruit crops are highly sensitive to thermal variability because of their long life cycles and dependence on precise environmental synchronisation during flowering and fruit development. Heat stress disrupts pollen viability, pollen germination, pollen tube growth and ovule function, leading to reduced fertilisation success and fruit set. Elevated temperatures also accelerate phenological transitions, shorten flowering windows and increase the exposure of reproductive tissues to supra-optimal conditions. At the physiological level, heat stress reduces photosynthetic efficiency and alters carbohydrate metabolism, thereby limiting assimilate availability for developing fruits. This imbalance between source activity and sink demand contributes to fruit abortion, reduced yield and poor fruit development. Fruit quality is also affected through changes in sugar–acid balance, reduced phytochemical accumulation and decreased firmness and shelf life. The review further considers adaptation strategies, including breeding for heat-tolerant genotypes, orchard-level microclimate management and molecular tools such as genomics and gene editing. Although these approaches offer promising avenues for reducing climate-induced losses, their effectiveness remains constrained by genetic limitations and trade-offs between stress tolerance and fruit quality. Overall, the findings emphasise the need for integrated strategies combining physiological understanding, genetic improvement and agronomic management to sustain fruit productivity under warming climates.

Extreme Weather Events and their Effects on Crop Yield: A Critical Review

2026-07-11T10:53:04+00:00

Rising global temperatures have altered the frequency, intensity and spatial distribution of extreme weather events, with direct and measurable consequences for agricultural productivity worldwide. This review synthesises evidence on how heatwaves, drought, flooding, tropical cyclones and their compound or sequential combinations affect the yield of major cereal and grain legume crops, with particular attention to wheat, maize, rice and soybean. Physiological mechanisms underlying yield loss are examined alongside field- and satellite-derived evidence of production shortfalls, and the modulating role of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration is considered. The review further evaluates adaptation strategies, including climate-smart agriculture, breeding for abiotic stress tolerance and agronomic management, and identifies the growing recognition that compound extremes, rather than single hazards, now pose the greatest threat to global food security. Evidence indicates that yield penalties associated with extreme heat, water deficit and excess soil moisture are often non-linear and interact with crop developmental stage, soil condition and regional climate. The review concludes that closing gaps in compound-event attribution, regionally disaggregated yield data and the integration of adaptation research across disciplines remains essential for safeguarding future food production under a changing climate.

A Critical Review of Oil Palm Plantations: Effects on Biodiversity with Particular Reference to Mizoram

2026-07-11T11:01:17+00:00

Oil palm cultivation has expanded rapidly across the humid tropics over the past four decades, driven by rising global demand for vegetable oils and the crop's exceptional per-hectare yield. This expansion has delivered substantial economic returns to producer nations, but it has also been linked repeatedly to biodiversity loss, particularly where plantations replace primary or secondary tropical forest. India has entered this landscape relatively recently, with the north-eastern state of Mizoram serving as the country's pioneering site for commercial oil palm cultivation since 2005. Mizoram presents a distinctive case: a biodiversity-rich, hilly terrain historically shaped by shifting cultivation, locally termed jhum, now undergoing a state-sponsored transition toward permanent monoculture plantations under successive land-use policies. This review synthesises the global evidence on oil palm's biodiversity consequences and situates Mizoram within that broader literature, drawing on avifaunal, mammalian, arthropod, and vegetation studies conducted in and around Dampa Tiger Reserve and other parts of the state. The review finds consistent evidence that oil palm plantations support markedly lower species richness and abundance than both primary forest and traditional jhum landscapes, with birds, understorey vegetation and soil biota showing the sharpest declines. Comparative work from Mizoram indicates that shifting cultivation mosaics retain considerably more forest-associated biodiversity than oil palm or teak monocultures, challenging simplistic narratives that frame jhum as inherently more destructive than settled plantation agriculture. Mitigation strategies, including riparian buffer retention, agroforestry enrichment, and voluntary certification, show mixed but generally modest effectiveness, and site-specific spatial planning appears to offer the more reliable pathway toward reconciling edible-oil self-sufficiency with biodiversity conservation. The review closes by identifying priority research gaps, offering policy-relevant conclusions, and acknowledging the constraints inherent in a narrative synthesis of a still-developing regional evidence base.

Flowering Management in Sugarcane Breeding: The Role of Photoperiodic Treatments

2026-07-14T13:49:49+00:00

Flowering is indispensable for sugarcane improvement because commercial varieties are developed through sexual recombination, yet sugarcane is normally vegetatively propagated and many elite clones flower erratically, late, poorly, or not at all under local conditions. Sugarcane flowering is controlled mainly by photoperiod, but successful panicle emergence and pollen fertility also depend on plant age, genotype, temperature, humidity, soil moisture, nutrition, light intensity and post-initiation development. The reviewed literature shows that sugarcane behaves as an intermediate/quantitative short-day plant whose inductive window is commonly close to 12.0-12.5 h or a declining schedule beginning near 12 h 45 min to 12 h 55 min; deviations to 9, 11 or 14 h markedly reduce panicle emergence compared with 12.5 h in sensitive clones. Controlled facilities therefore use either a fixed inductive photoperiod for 30-60 cycles followed by daily shortening, or a programmed daily decline of 30, 45 or 60 s from 12 h 55 min until about 11 h 30 min. Breeding programmes use these treatments to induce shy-flowering parents, advance early parents, delay early parents by night-light interruption, and synchronise late Saccharum spontaneum or wild relatives with commercial hybrids. Optimal controlled conditions are not universal, but the most consistently useful range is approximately 21-32 degrees C for development, 18-31 degrees C as a favourable seasonal flowering range, night temperature above about 18 degrees C, relative humidity about 67-80 per cent or higher during pollen functioning, continuous water availability without waterlogging, and avoidance of both nutrient starvation severe enough to weaken plants and excessive nitrogen during floral initiation. Molecular evidence indicates that circadian, photoperiod, gibberellin and age-related pathways interact through FT-like genes, CO-like regulators, LFY/AP1/SOC1-like floral integrators and GA-related regulators such as ScGAI and ScNAC23. This review synthesises photoperiodic schedules, environmental targets, nutrient management, breeding applications and gene-level information into a practical framework for controlled sugarcane flowering.

Physiological and Yield Performance of Some Upland Rice Cultivars of Assam under Aerobic and Normal Moisture Regimes

2026-06-20T11:35:31+00:00

Upland rice (broadcast summer rice) is a major component of rice production in Assam, particularly during flood and post-flood periods. The present study evaluated selected upland rice cultivars under normal irrigated and aerobic moisture regimes to identify physiological, biochemical and yield-related responses associated with moisture-stress tolerance. The experiment was conducted during the Rabi season at the Department of Crop Physiology, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat. Five upland rice genotypes (Banglami, Inglongkiri, Boga ahu, Ronga ahu and Bengungutia ahu), selected after preliminary screening from 169 genotypes, were compared with the national check variety CR Dhan in a fractional randomised block design with three replications. Normal plots were maintained at 17-19% soil moisture, whereas aerobic plots were maintained at 7-8% soil moisture through life-saving irrigation. Aerobic conditions reduced mean flag leaf area by 29.94%, photosynthetic rate by 32.10%, internal CO2 concentration by 15.12%, transpiration rate by 12.73%, total leaf chlorophyll content by 22.95%, nitrate reductase activity by 29.78%, panicle number per hill by 29.56%, grain yield by 20.84% and harvest index by 30.26%. In contrast, mean leaf proline content increased by 43.98% under aerobic conditions. Among the genotypes, Inglongkiri recorded the highest grain yield under aerobic conditions (489.89 g m-2), closely followed by Banglami (488.21 g m-2) and Ronga ahu (468.23 g m-2). These genotypes also maintained relatively favourable physiological and biochemical traits under aerobic conditions. The findings indicate that Inglongkiri, Banglami and Ronga ahu may be more suitable for cultivation under aerobic moisture regimes, whereas Boga ahu and Bengungutia ahu showed relatively greater susceptibility to moisture stress in the present study.

Assessment of Land Use and Land Cover Change Dynamics Using Google Earth Engine

2026-06-20T12:48:05+00:00

This study assessed land use and land cover (LULC) dynamics in the Subarnarekha River Basin, eastern India, using multi-temporal satellite datasets and cloud-based geospatial analysis. The study aimed to map LULC changes during 2019–2021, evaluate their spatial and temporal variability, and compare the performance of Random Forest and Support Vector Machine classifiers within Google Earth Engine. Sentinel-2 multispectral imagery and Sentinel-1 synthetic-aperture radar data were integrated to reduce limitations associated with cloud cover and spectral ambiguity. Seasonal, annual and combined LULC maps were generated for seven classes: trees, shrubland, grassland, cropland, built-up areas, bare/sparse vegetation and permanent water bodies. The overall classification accuracy ranged from 65.16% to 73.87%, while the kappa coefficient ranged from 0.61 to 0.69. Combined multi-temporal datasets produced higher classification accuracy than single-season datasets, indicating the value of temporal integration for reducing classification uncertainty. The results showed a gradual decline in forest cover, accompanied by increases in cropland and built-up areas. Grassland and bare/sparse vegetation showed moderate variability, whereas permanent water bodies remained comparatively stable with seasonal fluctuations. These changes indicate increasing anthropogenic pressure associated with agricultural expansion and urban development. The findings provide baseline spatial information for understanding land-transformation processes and supporting sustainable land and water resource management in the Subarnarekha River Basin.

Influence of Meteorological Variables on the Population Dynamics of Insect Pests of Pea in North-Western India

2026-06-22T09:13:37+00:00

Pea (Pisum sativum L.) is a short-duration legume crop valued for its protein-rich seeds, fodder use and contribution to soil fertility through nitrogen fixation. The present study examined the population dynamics of major insect pests of pea and their association with selected meteorological variables during the rabi season of 2024–25 at Khalsa College, Amritsar, Punjab, India. The experiment was laid out in a randomised block design with thirteen treatments and three replications. Weekly observations were recorded from the first appearance of pests until harvest on five randomly selected plants from each plot. Aphids were assessed on a 10 cm apical twig per plant, leaf miner and thrips populations were recorded from three canopy leaves per plant, and pod borer incidence was determined by counting larvae per plant. The major insect pests observed were aphid, leaf miner, thrips and pod borer. Aphid infestation began during the 49th Standard Meteorological Week (SMW) and peaked during the 4th SMW with 35.00 aphids per 10 cm apical twig. Leaf miner first appeared during the 48th SMW and reached 17.23 larvae per plant during the 4th SMW. Thrips incidence started during the 48th SMW and peaked at 6.85 thrips per plant during the 7th SMW, whereas pod borer infestation began during the 4th SMW and reached 1.90 larvae per plant during the 7th SMW. Aphid, leaf miner and thrips populations showed significant negative associations with maximum temperature, minimum temperature and relative humidity. Pod borer showed non-significant negative associations with these variables, and rainfall had a non-significant effect on all pests. Multiple regression analysis showed that weather parameters explained 66.5%, 59.6%, 61.2% and 46.2% of variation in aphid, leaf miner, thrips and pod borer populations, respectively.

Ichthyofaunal Diversity and Physicochemical Water Quality of Dahod Reservoir, Raisen, Madhya Pradesh, India

2026-06-22T09:21:46+00:00

This study assessed ichthyofaunal diversity and selected physicochemical water quality parameters of Dahod Reservoir in Raisen district, Madhya Pradesh, India. The reservoir, constructed in 1958, is used for irrigation and water supply and also supports aquatic biodiversity. Monthly sampling was conducted from December 2025 to April 2026 at four selected sites, namely Bithori, Dahod, Landing Centre and Imaliya Gondi, with the assistance of local fishermen. Fish specimens were collected using gill nets, cast nets and drag nets of different mesh sizes, and species were identified using standard taxonomic keys. Water quality was evaluated through measurements of air temperature, water temperature, transparency, pH, free carbon dioxide, dissolved oxygen, total hardness and total alkalinity. The study recorded 18 aquatic taxa distributed across 7 orders and 10 families. Cypriniformes was the dominant order, contributing 47% of the total recorded fauna, followed by Siluriformes (24%), Perciformes (8%), Cichliformes (6%), Beloniformes (5%), Osteoglossiformes (6%) and Decapoda (5%). The family Cyprinidae was represented by eight species and was the most abundant family. Shannon diversity values ranged from 1.519 to 1.890, while Shannon equitability ranged from 0.547 to 0.667, indicating moderate diversity with uneven species distribution. Physicochemical parameters remained within ranges generally favourable for freshwater fish survival, with pH from 6.9 to 8.5, dissolved oxygen from 6.0 to 9.8 mg/L, total hardness from 110 to 136 mg/L and total alkalinity from 136 to 190 mg/L. Overall, the findings indicate that Dahod Reservoir supports moderate aquatic diversity and maintains water quality conditions suitable for fish productivity, while continued monitoring is needed to address increasing anthropogenic pressures and the presence of exotic species.

Effect of Heat Stress Mitigators on Growth Performance of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under Varying Sowing Windows

2026-06-22T10:06:05+00:00

Rising temperature adversely affects cereal production and threatens global food security. Wheat is highly vulnerable to heat stress, which reduces its growth, development and productivity. A field experiment was conducted during the rabi seasons of 2024–25 and 2025–26 at Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, to evaluate the effect of heat stress mitigators on wheat growth under different sowing windows. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with three replications. Three sowing windows, namely timely sown, late sown and very late sown, were assigned to the main plots, while five foliar treatments, namely water spray, 2% potassium nitrate, melatonin at 100 µM, sodium nitroprusside at 100 µM and progesterone at 1 µM, were assigned to the subplots. Growth parameters were recorded at 30, 60 and 90 days after sowing and at harvest. Timely sowing produced the highest plant height, leaf area index and number of tillers m⁻², whereas very late sowing recorded the lowest values. Among the foliar treatments, 2% potassium nitrate produced the highest growth values and remained statistically comparable with sodium nitroprusside for most observations. At harvest, 2% potassium nitrate recorded a plant height of 98.80 cm, a leaf area index of 3.44 and 292.02 tillers m⁻². The corresponding values under water spray were 88.77 cm, 2.98 and 270.17 tillers m⁻². The interaction between sowing windows and heat stress mitigators was non-significant. The findings indicate that delayed sowing reduced wheat growth, while foliar application of potassium nitrate and sodium nitroprusside improved growth performance under the tested conditions.

Study on Fish Biodiversity of Upper Lake, Bhopal, M.P, India

2026-06-23T06:56:17+00:00

Understanding the ecological importance of fish is fundamental, particularly because of their role in sustaining healthy aquatic ecosystems. Fish communities, including habitat-associated species, are directly influenced by local habitat features and function as important components of aquatic food webs. They contribute to nutrient cycling, prey-predator dynamics and ecosystem stability. The present study investigates the fish biodiversity and water-quality parameters of Upper Lake (Bhoj Wetland), Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. The wetland showed moderate water-quality conditions in relation to anthropogenic activities, including the inflow of domestic sewage, urbanisation and encroachment in the catchment area. The study focused on three sampling sites, namely S1, Van Vihar Site (Shymala Hills); S2, Manav Sangrahalaya; and S3, VIP Apartment Housing Society, Khanugaon. The results indicated a total of 28 fish species belonging to 10 orders and 13 families. Species diversity was assessed using diversity indices that captured both species richness and evenness. Evenness describes variation in the relative abundance of species within a community. Statistical analyses were performed using Microsoft Excel and Species Diversity and Richness (SDR). The ichthyofaunal diversity of Upper Lake comprised ten orders, with dominance of Cypriniformes, represented by five families and 15 species, followed by Siluriformes, represented by three families and eight species. Cypriniformes (45%) was the dominant order, and the family Cyprinidae showed the highest diversity and abundance, including major carps and barbs. Biodiversity indices varied among the three study sites during the winter season. Site S2 exhibited the highest overall species diversity, with a Shannon-Wiener index (H’) of 2.45 and a Simpson’s index of diversity (1-D) of 0.85. Conversely, Site S1 yielded the lowest diversity indices (H’ = 2.095; 1-D = 0.80), despite showing the highest standardised species richness value (0.75) among the sampled locations. Future studies should use advanced ecological modelling to analyse shifting community dynamics at the sampling sites.

Evaluation of the Physico-chemical and Bacteriological Quality of Well Water along the Tilé River in N’Zérékoré, Guinea

2026-06-23T08:19:49+00:00

Water resources used for domestic purposes require continuous quality assessment, particularly in urban areas where surface water and shallow groundwater are exposed to domestic effluents, solid waste and runoff. This study evaluated the physico-chemical and bacteriological quality of well water along the Tilé River in the urban commune of N’Zérékoré, Guinea. The investigation was based on direct site observation and laboratory analyses of water samples collected from riverside wells and the Tilé River across nine districts. A total of 180 samples were analysed, comprising 10 well-water samples and 10 river-water samples per district. The measured parameters included temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, colour, total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, turbidity, total coliforms and faecal coliforms. The results were compared with World Health Organization guideline values for drinking water. Well-water temperatures ranged from 25.7°C to 26.1°C, whereas river-water temperatures ranged from 27.2°C to 27.7°C. The pH showed marked spatial variation, with acidic conditions recorded in Bellevue (3.52) and a higher value in Kwitiapoulou (7.79). Conductivity and total dissolved solids were generally higher in wells than in the river, indicating stronger groundwater mineralisation. In contrast, turbidity and colour were more pronounced in the Tilé River, with particularly high values in some districts. Bacteriological results indicated contamination by total and faecal coliforms, with concentrations ranging from 4 to 2,200 CFU/100 mL in the reported samples. These findings indicate that the Tilé River and adjacent wells are vulnerable to physico-chemical variation and faecal contamination. The water should not be consumed without appropriate treatment, and regular monitoring is required to support safer local water use.

Evolving Research Dynamics at the Climate–Migration Nexus: A Global Bibliometric Analysis (1995–2024)

2026-06-23T12:19:28+00:00

Climate change is increasingly recognized as a critical driver of human mobility, with environmental stressors such as droughts, flooding and sea-level rise shaping migration patterns globally. Despite substantial scholarly attention, research on climate-induced migration remains fragmented across disciplines and geographies. This study provides a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of global literature on climate-induced migration from 1995 to 2024, employing 1,980 publications retrieved from the Dimensions database. Analytical methods included performance analysis, co-authorship network mapping, source citation analysis, institutional collaboration profiling, and keyword co-occurrence mapping, implemented via Biblioshiny and VOSviewer. Results reveal a marked surge in research output post-2019, with the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany dominating publication volume and citation impact. India ranks fourth in output but exhibits limited international collaboration. Key intellectual clusters are identified around prominent scholars such as Clark Gray, Robert McLeman, and Caroline Zickgraf. Keyword analysis highlights central themes including “displacement,” “drought,” and “livelihood,” reflecting the field’s focus on rural vulnerability and adaptive capacity. Thematic evolution indicates a shift from deterministic “environmental refugee” narratives toward household-centered adaptation frameworks and climate justice paradigms. The study underscores structural disparities between empirical foci in the Global South and intellectual authority in the Global North, proposing pathways to foster South-South collaborations and integrate mobility research into climate adaptation policies. Findings provide a systematic taxonomy of climate-migration scholarship, supporting evidence-based policy-making and guiding future interdisciplinary research.

Dynamics of Biological Resource Use and Conservation Challenges within the Yaka Community of Kasongo-Lunda, Kwango Province, DRC

2026-06-25T04:54:39+00:00

Biodiversity management in the Democratic Republic of Congo is situated at the intersection of Indigenous knowledge, livelihood needs and conservation requirements. In Kingulu, Kwango Province, the conservation practices and uses of biological resources within the Yaka community remain insufficiently documented. This study aimed to identify the biological resources used locally, describe their food, medicinal and socio-cultural uses, analyse the contribution of traditional knowledge to sustainable management, evaluate land-cover dynamics and propose conservation strategies adapted to the local context. The study combined direct and participatory observation, household surveys, interviews with key informants, biological inventories and remote-sensing analysis of land-use change from 2001 to 2025. Data were collected from 217 households and 100 key informants in selected villages located near forest, savannah and collection areas. The findings show that biological resources support food, health, cultural practices, household income and local environmental governance. Remote-sensing analysis indicates a decline in forest cover from 30.33% in 2001 to 26.94% in 2025, despite a temporary increase to 31.17% in 2013. Local observations also indicate increasing scarcity, and in some cases local disappearance, of species reported by respondents, including Encephalartos laurentianus, Loxodonta cyclotis and Pan troglodytes. The main pressures identified include extensive agriculture, hunting, deforestation, overfishing, felling of host trees and unsustainable harvesting practices. Although Yaka traditional knowledge supports staggered harvesting, domestication, livestock keeping, aquaculture, protection of sacred forests and respect for designated collection sites, these practices remain challenged by poverty, weak management mechanisms and changing environmental conditions. The study highlights the need for integrated conservation approaches that combine community knowledge, ecological monitoring and locally appropriate governance.

Evaluation of Water Pollution Index using Physicochemical Characteristics in Coastal Water of Sutrapada, Gujarat, India

2026-06-25T08:17:38+00:00

Water quality in coastal environments is influenced by natural processes and human activities, and regular assessment is needed to support sustainable management. This study evaluated the water quality status of the Sutrapada coastal waters, Gujarat, India, using physicochemical characteristics and the Water Pollution Index (WPI). Surface water samples were collected monthly from five sampling stations from June 2025 to January 2026. Fourteen physicochemical characteristics, namely temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, turbidity, electrical conductivity, total hardness, total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, total solids, ammonia, phosphate and nitrate, were analysed using standard methods and compared with seawater quality standards.

The results showed seasonal variation associated with climatic conditions, freshwater inflow, tidal fluctuations and anthropogenic activities. The pollution index values were below unity for most characteristics, including temperature (0.9996), pH (0.9888), salinity (0.9765), dissolved oxygen (0.9996), biochemical oxygen demand (0.8692), turbidity (0.9595), electrical conductivity (0.9860), total hardness (0.6340), total dissolved solids (0.9720), total suspended solids (0.9333), total solids (0.9809) and ammonia (0.7778). However, phosphate (1.0513) and nitrate (1.0551) exceeded unity, indicating nutrient enrichment.

The overall WPI value of 0.9356 classified the Sutrapada coastal waters as moderately polluted. The findings provide baseline information for continued water quality monitoring and sustainable coastal management.

Spatial Trend and Geostatistical Prediction of Water Quality Index in the Pra River Basin of Ghana

2026-06-26T11:21:38+00:00

Reliable spatial prediction of river water quality is essential in mining-affected river basins where pollution varies across space. This article examined the spatial behaviour of the Water Quality Index (WQI) in the Pra River Basin system of Ghana and compared the performance of inverse distance weighting (IDW), ordinary kriging (OK), and co-kriging (CK) for WQI interpolation. The study used 150 sampling points distributed across the Birim, Offin, and Pra basins, and WQI was derived from pH, total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), and electrical conductivity (EC). Spatial trend was assessed using Kendall’s tau, distributional skewness was reduced using the Yeo-Johnson transformation, and interpolation performance was evaluated using cross-validation metrics including RMSE, MAE, and R². Results showed a statistically significant positive spatial trend in WQI (Kendall’s τ = 0.2612, p < 0.001), confirming non-stationarity. The Yeo-Johnson transformation substantially reduced skewness from 0.4797 to 0.0276 at λ = -0.3611. Among the interpolation methods, ordinary kriging produced the best predictive performance (RMSE = 0.6782, MAE = 0.5103, R² = 0.5370), outperforming both the best IDW configuration and co-kriging. The findings show that spatially structured WQI data in the Pra Basin are better modelled with variogram-based geostatistical methods than with deterministic interpolation alone. Ordinary kriging therefore produced the best relative performance among the interpolation methods tested and is suitable for basin-scale WQI mapping in the study area, although further improvement may be achieved by incorporating additional spatial covariates and trend-explicit models.

Drivers of Urban PM₂.₅ Pollution in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso: Evidence from STIRPAT, ARDL, LMDI and Tapio Analysis

2026-06-29T11:52:50+00:00

This study investigates the socioeconomic drivers of urban fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅) in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, over the period 2000–2024 using an integrated analytical framework that combines STIRPAT modelling, ARDL cointegration analysis, Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) testing, logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) decomposition and Tapio decoupling analysis. The objective is to identify the relative contributions of population dynamics, urbanisation, motorisation, biomass energy use, income growth and total energy consumption to long-term changes in air pollution exposure. Annual PM₂.₅ concentrations were derived from satellite-based estimates calibrated against regional retrievals, while socioeconomic variables were compiled from national statistical and international databases.

The results indicate that annual mean PM₂.₅ increased from 41.7 to 56.5 µg m⁻³ during the study period, remaining substantially above WHO guideline values. Econometric analysis reveals severe multicollinearity in the full STIRPAT specification; therefore, a parsimonious model is required. In this model, motorisation is the most robust and statistically significant driver of pollution. ARDL bounds testing supports a stable long-run relationship between PM₂.₅, motorisation and biomass energy use, with motorisation showing a long-run elasticity of approximately 0.20. EKC analysis indicates a U-shaped relationship, with the turning point lying outside the observed income range, suggesting no evidence of income-driven environmental improvement within the sample period. LMDI decomposition identifies population growth and urban expansion as the dominant contributors, partially offset by declining per-capita biomass intensity. Tapio decoupling analysis shows weak decoupling between income and emissions throughout the study period.

Overall, the findings suggest that transport-sector growth, particularly motorisation, was the most robust long-term correlate of PM₂.₅ exposure within the available dataset, with implications for targeted urban air quality management policies.

Assessment of Rainfall Variability, Meteorological Drought Characteristics and Agricultural Implications Using SPI, Rainy Days and Trend Analysis in Hyderabad, India

2026-06-29T12:04:29+00:00

Background: Rainfall variability and meteorological drought are major concerns in semi-arid regions such as Hyderabad, where agricultural planning and water-resource management depend strongly on the amount and distribution of monsoon rainfall.

Aims: This study assessed rainfall variability, meteorological drought characteristics and agricultural implications in Hyderabad, India, using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), rainy-day analysis, the Mann–Kendall trend test and Sen’s slope estimator.

Study Design: A quantitative climatic data analysis was conducted using historical rainfall records.

Place and Duration of Study: Hyderabad, Telangana, India, using daily rainfall data for the period 2003–2024.

Methodology: Daily rainfall observations obtained from the India Meteorological Department were aggregated to monthly and annual scales. SPI values were computed to identify wet and dry conditions and to classify drought severity. Annual rainy days, defined as days with measurable rainfall of at least 2.5 mm, were used to examine rainfall distribution. The Mann–Kendall test and Sen’s slope estimator were applied to assess the direction, significance and magnitude of rainfall-related trends.

Results: Rainfall conditions showed marked inter-annual variability during 2003–2024. Of the 22 years analysed, 12 years (54.55%) had dry conditions (SPI < 0), while 10 years (45.45%) had wet conditions (SPI > 0). Moderate drought occurred in 2 years (9.09%), and no severe drought events were identified. The Mann–Kendall analysis indicated a positive but statistically non-significant SPI trend (p > 0.05), while Sen’s slope showed a marginal increase of about +0.01 SPI units per year. Annual rainy days varied from 47 to 102 days, indicating considerable variability in rainfall frequency and distribution.

Conclusion: Hyderabad experienced recurrent dry years and substantial rainfall variability rather than a clear long-term wetting or drying trend. The findings highlight the need for climate-resilient crop planning, efficient water management, drought preparedness and improved use of climate information in rainfed and water-sensitive agricultural systems.

Spatio-temporal Analysis of Land Use and Land Cover Dynamics using Multi-temporal Landsat Imagery in the Dantiwada Watershed, Gujarat, India

2026-06-29T12:47:49+00:00

Land use and land cover (LULC) change is an important indicator of landscape transformation and provides useful information for watershed planning and natural resource management. This study assessed spatio-temporal changes in LULC in the Dantiwada watershed, Gujarat, India, using multi-temporal Landsat satellite imagery for 2002, 2013, and 2024. Landsat 7 ETM+, Landsat 8 OLI, and Landsat 9 OLI datasets were processed and classified using the Iterative Self-Organising Data Analysis Technique (ISODATA), an unsupervised classification approach. Five major LULC classes were identified: waterbody, barren land, built-up area, dense vegetation, and vegetation. Post-classification comparison was used to quantify the area and percentage distribution of each class across the 22-year study period. The results showed a marked reduction in barren land from 73.70% in 2002 to 58.22% in 2013 and 45.76% in 2024. Vegetation increased from 18.50% to 28.65% and 33.13%, while dense vegetation increased from 5.70% to 10.07% and 15.97% during the same period. The combined vegetation and dense vegetation classes increased from 24.20% in 2002 to 49.10% in 2024. Built-up area increased from 1.10% to 3.45%, and waterbody area increased from 1.00% to 1.69%. The findings indicate a substantial shift from barren land towards vegetated land cover within the Dantiwada watershed and provide baseline information for watershed-level land resource planning and long-term monitoring.

Spatiotemporal Variability of Compound Heat Drought Events in Sahel Region

2026-06-30T13:05:20+00:00

Compound heat-drought events (CHDEs) represent an important climate-related hazard in semi-arid regions, where high-temperature extremes and precipitation deficits can occur simultaneously and intensify environmental and socioeconomic stress. This study investigated the spatiotemporal variability of CHDEs across the Sahel during the June-September season for the period 1990-2020. Daily mean air temperature and daily precipitation data from ERA5 reanalysis were used to identify high-temperature extremes (HTEs) and low-precipitation extremes (LPEs) based on percentile thresholds. HTEs were defined using the 90th percentile of daily temperature, whereas LPEs were defined using the 25th percentile of daily precipitation. CHDEs were identified when both extremes occurred concurrently at the same grid cell and time step. Trend magnitudes were estimated using Sen's slope estimator, statistical significance was assessed using the Mann-Kendall test, and dominant modes of variability were examined using empirical orthogonal function analysis. The results showed that HTEs were most frequent over the northern Sahel, while LPEs occurred mainly across the northern and central Sahel. The highest frequencies of CHDEs were found over the southern and central Sahel. HTEs increased across much of the northern and eastern Sahel, whereas LPE trends showed spatial heterogeneity. CHDE trends were spatially mixed, with localised increases in parts of the central and northeastern Sahel. The leading empirical orthogonal function mode explained 33.4% of the total variance and indicated broad regional variability, with a tendency towards increased events in recent years. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring compound climate extremes for climate risk assessment and adaptation planning in the Sahel.

Assessment of Metal Pollution in Water and Sediments in Gold Mining Areas in Mayo, Dalalang, Forage and Vounbiyao in Mayo Kebbi-Ouest, Chad

2026-07-02T06:32:04+00:00

Artisanal gold mining can affect aquatic and sedimentary environments through the mobilisation and discharge of metallic elements. This study assessed metal pollution in water and sediments from four gold mining sites in Gamboké, Mayo Kebbi-Ouest, Chad, namely Mayo, Dalalang, Forage and Vounbiyao. Wastewater and sediment samples were collected from the study sites and analysed by atomic absorption spectrometry to determine the concentrations of Hg, Cd, Pb, Ni, Co, Zn, Mn and Fe. Mercury was determined using a hydride generator coupled to atomic absorption spectrometry. Sediment quality was evaluated using the geoaccumulation index, enrichment factor, contamination factor, degree of contamination and ecological risk index, while water concentrations were compared with the standards used in the study. The results showed marked metal contamination, particularly by Hg and Cd. In sediments, Hg and Cd had the highest geoaccumulation values, while Pb, Ni, Fe, Zn and Mn generally showed negative Igeo values. The enrichment factor indicated very high enrichment of Hg and Cd, with the highest mercury enrichment at Mayo. The degree of contamination was very high at Mayo and moderate at Vounbiyao, Forage and Dalalang. Water samples contained elevated Hg, Cd, Pb, Ni and Fe concentrations, with mercury exceeding the reference limit at all sites. The findings indicate that artisanal gold mining contributes to metal pollution and requires mitigation measures to reduce environmental and health risks.

Seasonal Dynamics of Water Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen in Wular Lake, Kashmir: Evidence of Weak Dissolved Oxygen–Temperature Relationships in a Himalayan Wetland

2026-07-02T06:49:00+00:00

Wular Lake is a high-altitude freshwater wetland in the Kashmir Himalaya that experiences strong seasonal variation in physicochemical conditions. This study assessed seasonal changes in water temperature and dissolved oxygen across 20 sampling sites during summer, autumn, winter and spring, yielding 80 observations. Both variables were measured on site at each sampling location. Water temperature was recorded using a mercury-in-glass thermometer, and dissolved oxygen was measured using a portable dissolved oxygen meter. Seasonal differences were evaluated using one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey post hoc comparisons, while Pearson correlation and simple linear regression were used to examine the relationship between water temperature and dissolved oxygen. Water temperature varied significantly among seasons, with the lowest mean value in winter (4.90 ± 1.62 °C) and the highest in summer (24.01 ± 2.70 °C). Dissolved oxygen also differed significantly among seasons, ranging from 7.31 ± 1.66 mg/L in autumn to 9.82 ± 1.19 mg/L in summer. The pooled temperature-dissolved oxygen relationship was weak and non-significant (r = 0.085, p = 0.452; R² = 0.007), indicating that temperature alone did not explain dissolved oxygen variability across the annual cycle. Seasonal analysis showed a significant negative relationship only in spring 2025 (r = -0.502, p = 0.024), while summer, autumn and winter showed no significant correlations. The relatively high summer dissolved oxygen values despite elevated temperature suggest that site-level oxygen dynamics may be influenced by processes other than solubility alone. One autumn observation of 4.20 mg/L fell below the 5.0 mg/L threshold recommended for sustaining aquatic life (USEPA, 1986), indicating a localised low-oxygen condition requiring attention. These findings demonstrate that the classical temperature-dissolved oxygen solubility relationship was weak in this biologically productive Himalayan wetland and support the need for direct seasonal dissolved oxygen monitoring rather than reliance on temperature as a proxy indicator in Ramsar-designated freshwater ecosystems of the Kashmir Himalaya.

Land Use Dynamics and Ecosystem Services in the Municipality of Dogo, Niger

2026-07-03T03:50:34+00:00

Wetlands in the Sahel provide important ecosystem services for rural communities, but their functioning is increasingly influenced by land-use change and climate variability. This study assessed land-use dynamics, rainfall patterns, and perceived ecosystem services in the rural municipality of Dogo, Zinder Region, Niger. Socioeconomic information was collected from 93 respondents in four villages along the Korama Valley using a questionnaire on ecosystem services and local environmental change. Land-use changes were analysed using Landsat images from 1986 and 2025, while rainfall and temperature data were used to describe climatic variability and projected relationships with selected ecosystem services. The results show that provisioning services are the most frequently recognised by local populations. Among food-related uses, cereal crops were cited most often, with a citation rate of 75%, followed by fruits, vegetables, and tubers. Land-use analysis indicated an expansion of rain-fed cropland from 31.11% of the municipal area in 1986 to 78.14% in 2025. Wooded steppe declined from 43.57% to 10.79%, and bare land decreased from 23.13% to 2.35%. Settlements increased from 0.25% to 3.40%, while wetlands increased from 1.93% to 5.30%. Annual rainfall ranged from 291.8 mm to 918.2 mm, with an increasing trend after 2013. Regression results suggest that rainfall is associated with changes in wetlands, carbon storage, pollination, and wooded steppe, although the strength of these relationships varies by scenario. The findings indicate that land-use conversion, demographic pressure, and climatic variability jointly influence ecosystem services in Dogo.

Indian Agriculture in Green House Gases Emission and Voluntary Carbon Market-emerging Scenario and Challenges

2026-07-03T03:56:48+00:00

Agriculture is an important source of greenhouse gas emissions in India and also offers mitigation opportunities through sustainable land use and carbon market mechanisms. This study examines Indian agriculture’s position in greenhouse gas emissions and the voluntary carbon market using secondary data from national and global databases. It analyses emission trends from 1970 to 2024 and voluntary carbon credit issuance up to 2025, with specific attention to 2009–2024, when agricultural carbon credits from India became available in the voluntary market. The results show that India’s total greenhouse gas emissions increased from 733.24 Mt CO₂e in 1970 to 4371.17 Mt CO₂e in 2024, while agricultural emissions increased from 402.79 Mt CO₂e to 805.43 Mt CO₂e. However, agriculture’s share in India’s total greenhouse gas emissions declined from 54.93% to 18.43%, mainly because emissions from other sectors grew faster. During 2009–2024, agriculture contributed 21.68% of India’s cumulative greenhouse gas emissions but accounted for only 0.20% of carbon credits issued in the voluntary carbon market. This indicates a substantial emission-credit gap. The study identifies carbon credit pricing, demand from compliance and voluntary markets, measurement and verification costs, additionality, farmer participation and institutional design as key factors shaping agricultural carbon markets in India. Policy support, transparent market mechanisms, credible monitoring systems and inclusive farmer-level institutions are required to strengthen the role of agriculture in climate change mitigation and sustainable transition.

Variations in Environmental Parameters inside a Polyhouse during Two Growing Seasons of Hydroponic Basil

2026-07-03T07:41:10+00:00

Hydroponic cultivation under protected structures requires regular monitoring of internal environmental conditions because crop performance is influenced by seasonal changes in the polyhouse microclimate. The present study evaluated variations in temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration inside a naturally ventilated polyhouse during hydroponic basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) cultivation at Dr NTR College of Agricultural Engineering, Bapatla, Andhra Pradesh, India. The crop was grown using the Nutrient Film Technique (NFT), and environmental parameters were recorded with a Rotronic CP11 handheld instrument at 1-hour intervals. Observations were made during Season 3 (October-November) and Season 4 (January-February) to compare the environmental behaviour of the polyhouse across two growing periods. The recorded data showed clear seasonal variation in the internal microclimate. During Season 3, temperature ranged from 25.64°C to 34.04°C, relative humidity ranged from 65.05% to 90.56% and CO₂ concentration ranged from 411.91 to 463.66 ppm. During Season 4, temperature ranged from 24.15°C to 32.05°C, relative humidity ranged from 63.96% to 85.23% and CO₂ concentration ranged from 446.42 to 545.17 ppm. Basil yield was higher in Season 3 (38.9 kg) than in Season 4 (36.2 kg). The comparatively lower yield during Season 4 was associated with lower temperature, reduced light intensity, shorter day length and higher relative humidity during winter, which affected photosynthesis, nutrient uptake and vegetative growth. The findings provide a seasonal basis for interpreting microclimatic variation in the studied hydroponic production system. The study indicates that continuous monitoring and regulation of temperature, relative humidity and CO₂ concentration are important for maintaining a favourable microclimate for hydroponic basil production under polyhouse conditions.

Assessment of Avian Diversity in Miyawaki Micro-Forest Plantations of Yadadri Bhuvanagiri District, Telangana, India

2026-07-04T04:46:04+00:00

Aims: To assess bird diversity in the Yadadri Forest Model, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri District, Telangana. Three plantations established in 2018, 2019, and 2022 were evaluated at a spacing of 1 m × 1 m.

Place and Duration of Study: Yadadri Bhuvanagiri District, Telangana, during 2022–2023.

Methodology: During the study period from January 2022 to June 2023, bird visits to the micro-forest plantations established at 1 m × 1 m spacing were documented monthly through visual observations. The resulting data were used to calculate relative abundance, species richness, species diversity, and species evenness.

Results: The relative abundance of the Common crow varied across the three plantations, with 6.86% in Plantation 1, 10.76% in Plantation 2, and 11.70% in Plantation 3. House sparrow had relatively high abundance in Plantations 1 and 2, at 9.42% and 7.89%, respectively. Rufous treepie showed the lowest occurrence across the plantations, with values of 0.00% in Plantations 1 and 2 and 0.45% in Plantation 3. Plantation 2 had the highest species evenness (0.98), whereas Plantation 1 had the highest species diversity (3.06), indicating variation in bird composition and community structure among plantations.

Conclusions: Bird diversity and composition, including habitat, IUCN status, and feeding habits, were recorded at the same micro-forest spacing. The bird community included 10 omnivores, 10 insectivores, 4 granivores, 3 carnivores, 3 frugivores, and 1 herbivore.

Standardization of Fertigation Scheduling of Mango under North Gujarat Conditions

2026-07-04T13:36:57+00:00

A field experiment was conducted at the Horticultural Instructional Farm, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Gujarat, India, during 2020-23 to standardise fertigation scheduling for mango under North Gujarat conditions. The experiment was carried out on cv. Kesar. The experiment included four treatments: T₁, 100% recommended dose of fertiliser through fertigation; T₂, 80% recommended dose of fertiliser through fertigation; T₃, 60% recommended dose of fertiliser through fertigation; and T₄, 100% recommended dose of fertiliser through soil application. The recommended dose was 750:160:750 g N:P:K per plant per year. The treatments were replicated five times, and fertigation was applied in four equal splits during the first week of October, February, March and April. Observations were recorded on fruit physical characteristics, yield and quality parameters. The pooled results showed that application of 100% recommended dose of fertiliser through fertigation produced the highest fruit diameter (6.15 cm), fruit weight (214.49 g), fruit yield (59.88 kg plant⁻¹ and 5988.06 kg ha⁻¹), total soluble solids (19.16 °Brix), reducing sugar (4.25%) and total sugar (13.06%). The 80% recommended dose through fertigation was often statistically comparable with the 100% fertigation treatment for selected fruit and quality traits. The lowest yield was generally recorded with 60% recommended dose through fertigation. The findings indicate that fertigation with the full recommended dose of NPK in four split applications improved mango yield and selected quality attributes under the experimental conditions. This schedule may be considered for mango cultivation under similar North Gujarat conditions, subject to local soil, water and orchard management practices.

Assessment of Carbon Dioxide Reduction and Air Quality Improvement through Rooftop Farming in Urban Areas

2026-07-07T09:29:32+00:00

Growing urbanisation and industrialisation in urban areas have increased gaseous emissions, particularly in peripheral industrial areas. This pollution is mainly associated with CO2 and other greenhouse gases, among which CO2 is a major component. Carbon dioxide affects human beings and the environment. Emissions arise from several sources, including vehicles, industrial activities, domestic fuel use and other urban activities, whereas vegetation associated with rooftop farming can contribute to CO2 reduction. In the township, the CO2 level was recorded at 449 ppm. Lower carbon dioxide concentrations were observed in rooftop farming (RTF) areas because plants absorb CO2 through stomatal movement during photosynthesis. Dense plant growth in RTF areas reduced CO2 and supported the presence of fresher air for people spending leisure time on rooftops in the evening. The variation in CO2 levels associated with RTF vegetation was observed over five consecutive years, from 2021 to 2025. During festival periods, increased vehicle movement and traffic congestion contributed to higher CO2 emissions. The manuscript is important because it shows how rooftop farming can help reduce carbon dioxide levels and improve air quality in urban areas. This study also explains how plants on rooftops can provide fresher air and support small-scale climate resilience in cities affected by pollution and traffic emissions. Furthermore, the findings can help researchers, environmental scientists and city planners develop more sustainable approaches for managing urban pollution. The present study demonstrated that vegetation plays a significant role in the uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). Urban areas with rooftop gardens and other green spaces exhibited comparatively lower CO2 concentrations, thereby contributing to improved environmental quality and potentially reducing adverse impacts on ecosystems and human populations. Through photosynthesis, plants assimilate atmospheric CO2 and convert it into biomass, resulting in carbon storage and sequestration. This process contributes to the mitigation of environmental carbon footprints and supports climate change mitigation efforts. In contrast, non-vegetated or bare urban areas were associated with elevated CO2 concentrations, largely attributable to anthropogenic activities, including vehicular emissions, industrial discharges and the use of cooking fuels in densely populated residential and informal settlement areas. These findings highlight the importance of urban vegetation in regulating atmospheric CO2 levels and enhancing environmental sustainability.

A Modified Approach for Mapping Forest Fire Severity Using Sentinel-2 Time Series in the Indian Himalayan Region

2026-07-07T11:04:56+00:00

Forest fire is an important phenomenon that influences forest ecosystems. Mapping forest fire and its severity is important for forest fire management and the restoration of fire-affected areas. This study was implemented to map forest-fire-affected areas under different fire-severity classes over a six-year period (2017-2022) in a Himalayan moist temperate forest-dominated region of the Indian Western Himalaya, which faces frequent forest fires. Identifying burnt areas is crucial for understanding various ecological processes associated with forest fire. We mapped forest fire severity using remotely sensed images. Sentinel-2 data were used to obtain the differenced normalised burn ratio (dNBR) to map burnt areas during 2017-2022, calculated as the difference between pre- and post-fire normalised burn ratio values. A protocol was developed to identify areas severely affected by fire over a long observation period. The temporal dNBR maps were classified into different fire-severity classes and matched with the percentage of active fire points detected in the burnt class by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) to validate the classification. We observed that 74.4 to 92.5% of active fire points fell within the burnt severity classes during different assessment years. The developed protocol will be helpful in identifying the spatial representation of burnt severity categories in forests, understanding various ecological processes and implementing fire-mitigation plans.

Anthropogenic Impacts on Soil Physicochemical Characteristics in Juniperus macropoda Forests of Gurez Valley in Kashmir Himalaya

2026-07-08T09:11:25+00:00

This study investigated the effects of anthropogenic disturbances on the physicochemical characteristics of soil in Juniperus macropoda forests of Gurez Valley in the Kashmir Himalaya. A total of 36 soil samples were collected from three depths (0-20, 20-40 and >40 cm) along a disturbance gradient comprising highly disturbed forest (HDF), moderately disturbed forest (MDF) and low-disturbed forest (LDF). The effects of anthropogenic disturbances on soil physicochemical characteristics were analysed using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. The results showed that anthropogenic disturbance affected soil pH, bulk density, electrical conductivity (dS/m), organic carbon (%), soil texture, and available N, P and K (kg ha^-1), and all parameters varied across the disturbance gradients. Soil physical properties changed with increasing depth, whereas soil chemical properties declined with increasing depth at all three studied sites. Anthropogenic disturbances showed significant correlations with soil physicochemical characteristics in Juniperus macropoda forests (p < 0.05). Soil physicochemical parameters also showed significant correlations with the concentration of dominance (Cd), diversity index (H') and evenness index (E) in the forests. Anthropogenic disturbances were associated with forest soil degradation, resulting in soil nutrient loss, accelerated erosion and reduced microbial activity. Reforestation and regulated management are essential to prevent desertification and rehabilitate degraded Juniperus macropoda forests of the Gurez Himalaya.

Design, Development and Evaluation of Folding Type Pyramid Shape Solar Dryer for Bitter Guard Drying

2026-07-08T09:17:40+00:00

Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) is a perishable cucurbit crop used for culinary and medicinal purposes, but surplus production can contribute to post-harvest losses when preservation options are limited. This study focused on the design, development and evaluation of a folding-type, pyramid-shaped solar dryer for drying bitter gourd slices under natural convection. The dryer was designed with a 5 kg loading capacity, four drying trays and a total tray area of 2.4 m². Its dimensions were 1.50 × 1.50 × 1.40 m, and the main components included a drying chamber, drying trays, a loading door and an exhaust chimney. The foldable arrangement enabled assembly and disassembly by bolting and unbolting the main frame and removing the side frames. Performance was assessed under no-load and full-load conditions and compared with traditional open sun drying. The dryer achieved a maximum drying temperature of 65 °C. During winter testing, bitter gourd slices were dried to a final moisture content of approximately 5% on a wet basis in 13 hours, compared with 16 hours under open sun drying. The average drying rate in the solar dryer was 0.40 g/100 g bdm min. The overall drying efficiency was 28.48% during winter laboratory testing. Economic analysis indicated a benefit-cost ratio of 1.04, net present worth of Rs. 9080.85 and a payback period of 2 months and 8 days.

Assessment of Physicochemical Parameters of Chambal River Water in Kota, Rajasthan, India

2026-07-08T13:41:07+00:00

The present study assessed selected physicochemical parameters of Chambal River water at four sampling sites in Kota, Rajasthan, during March–May 2026. Water samples were collected from Bhitariya Kund, Godavari Dham, Chambal River Front and Nayapura Bridge in capped polyethylene bottles and analysed for eleven parameters: pH, total dissolved solids, turbidity, total alkalinity, phosphate, sulphate, calcium, fluoride, chloride, magnesium and nitrate. The results were compared with the Indian Standard Specification for drinking water, IS 10500:2012, wherever applicable. The pH values ranged from 6.84 to 7.42, indicating near-neutral to slightly alkaline conditions. Total dissolved solids varied from 257 to 416 mg/l, while turbidity ranged from 3.12 to 4.61 NTU. Total alkalinity was recorded between 116 and 129 mg/l. Phosphate, sulphate, calcium, fluoride, chloride, magnesium and nitrate ranged from 0.09 to 0.23 mg/l, 12.59 to 15.81 mg/l, 33.7 to 36.9 mg/l, 0.31 to 0.67 mg/l, 59 to 78 mg/l, 11.6 to 14.1 mg/l and 6.92 to 10.29 mg/l, respectively. Pearson correlation and standardised one-way ANOVA were applied to the existing site-wise data. Most measured parameters were within the acceptable limits prescribed by IS 10500:2012. Turbidity values were below the permissible limit but exceeded the acceptable limit of 1 NTU at all sites. The findings indicate that Chambal River water at the selected locations was generally within the prescribed physicochemical range during the study period. However, regular monitoring and suitable treatment before domestic use are recommended to maintain water safety and quality.

Performance Evaluation of Rooftop Agrivoltaic (AV) System for Energy Generation

2026-07-09T06:30:02+00:00

The increasing pressure on land, food supply and renewable energy production has created a need for technologies that can improve space-use efficiency without separating cultivation from power generation. This study evaluated the energy-generation performance of a 3.0 kW rooftop agrivoltaic (AV) system installed at the Department of Renewable Energy Engineering, College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, Gujarat, India. The system occupied 38.17 m² and consisted of 20 polycrystalline photovoltaic modules of 150 W each. The modules were installed in a south-facing check-type layout with alternate blank spaces and an inclination angle equal to the local latitude. Energy performance was assessed from November 2025 to March 2026 using standard photovoltaic performance indicators, including total energy output, final yield, reference yield, performance ratio, capacity factor and system efficiency. During the experimental period, the rooftop AV system generated 1568.2 kWh of electrical energy. Monthly energy generation was highest in January, while the highest daily final yield, reference yield, capacity factor and system efficiency were recorded in March. The overall final yield and reference yield were 4.36 h/day and 5.99 h/day, respectively. The overall performance ratio, capacity factor and system efficiency were 0.73, 18.15% and 11.01%, respectively. The results indicate that the developed rooftop AV system was technically feasible for decentralised electricity generation within the study period. However, crop response, microclimatic effects, long-term performance and economic feasibility require further evaluation.

Geospatial Assessment of Morphometric Characteristics of a Watershed in the Pravara River Basin

2026-07-11T13:27:19+00:00

Watershed morphometric analysis provides a quantitative basis for evaluating drainage geometry, basin form and relief characteristics that influence runoff behaviour and erosion susceptibility. This study assessed the morphometric characteristics of a selected watershed in the Pravara River Basin, Maharashtra, India, using remote sensing and geographic information system techniques. A 30 m Shuttle Radar Topography Mission Digital Elevation Model was used for watershed delineation, drainage-network extraction and computation of linear, areal and relief parameters. The watershed was divided into three sub-watersheds, and morphometric indices were derived following standard methods. The drainage network showed a dendritic pattern, with SW1 and SW3 attaining sixth-order streams and SW2 attaining fifth-order streams. A total of 1,373 stream segments were identified, with first-order streams accounting for the largest proportion. The mean bifurcation ratio was 3.45, indicating a well-developed drainage system with moderate structural control. The areal parameters indicated an elongated basin form, with a mean form factor of 0.48, elongation ratio of 0.78 and circularity ratio of 0.29. The mean drainage density and stream frequency were 3.10 km/km² and 11.62 streams/km², respectively. Relief parameters, including mean basin relief of 817 m and ruggedness number of 2.956, indicated moderately rugged terrain with varying erosion susceptibility. The study provides useful morphometric information for watershed planning, soil and water conservation and sustainable water-resource management.

Morphometric Analysis for Sustainable Land and Water Management of Maliwadgaon Watershed Using Geospatial Techniques

2026-07-13T10:17:02+00:00

Morphometric analysis provides a quantitative basis for interpreting watershed hydrology, runoff response and erosion susceptibility, particularly in semi-arid regions where land and water resources are under increasing pressure. The present study evaluated the morphometric characteristics of the Maliwadgaon watershed in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, Maharashtra, using remote sensing and GIS techniques to support sustainable watershed management. A 30 m resolution Shuttle Radar Topography Mission Digital Elevation Model was used to delineate the watershed and derive linear, areal and relief parameters. The watershed covers 43 km², with a basin length of 12 km and a perimeter of 36 km. The drainage network exhibits a dendritic pattern and an elongated basin form, as reflected by the form factor (0.299), circularity ratio (0.417) and elongation ratio (0.617). The drainage density of 0.991 km/km² indicates a low-to-moderate drainage network, while the stream frequency of 8.88 streams/km² suggests higher runoff potential during intense rainfall events. Relief parameters, including basin relief (82 m), relief ratio (6.83 m/km) and ruggedness number (0.081), indicate moderate terrain dissection and erosion susceptibility. The findings support the need for site-specific soil and water conservation measures, including contour bunding, vegetative barriers, check dams and water harvesting structures, to improve runoff control and water retention in the watershed.