Qamer Ridwan | Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (original) (raw)
Papers by Qamer Ridwan
Sustainability
Plant resources have been used by humans for their wellbeing for ages. Tribal communities live in... more Plant resources have been used by humans for their wellbeing for ages. Tribal communities live in far flung areas in close proximity with forests and have a rich cultural heritage and traditional knowledge of forest resources. The present study was carried out in the Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir to document the traditional knowledge of plant usage and local perception towards biodiversity conservation. A total of 86 informants were selected through non-probability sampling using a convenience sampling method based on easy access, availability and relevance of informants. During the present study, a total of 92 plant species belonging to 85 genera and 57 families were recorded. Fabaceae and Rosaceae were found to be dominant families. In terms of growth forms, herbaceous species were dominant, followed by trees. Leaves were the most common parts used, followed by fruits. These plant species are used for different purposes such as medicine, edibles, fodder and dye making. A n...
Pesticides are toxic chemical substances which are intentionally liberated into the surroundings ... more Pesticides are toxic chemical substances which are intentionally liberated into the surroundings for the purpose of killing, controlling, mitigating the population of insects, weeds, rodents, and other harmful pests in agricultural, domestic, and industrial framework. Although pesticides are beneficial in controlling the growth of all these pests but their unregulated and indiscriminate use has increased their concentration in soil and water which is detrimental to human health, animals, and to the ecosystems. The population of the world is increasing at a very fast speed resulting to higher demand for the food. This demand can be solved by improving agricultural practices. However, this should be done in consonance with ecological balance which in turn advocates the depletion in the usage of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Therefore, keeping in view the ecological perspectives, plant-microbe interactions can be a better alternative for improving agriculture production and also facilitate the degradation of pesticides. Such interactions between plants and microbes can modify the physio-chemical and biochemical properties of soil. Symbiotic interactions of soil microbes with plants stimulate plant productivity by supplying limiting nutrients to the plants. One of the best studied interactions of plants and microbes is that of N 2 fixing bacteria and root nodules of legumes which play an important role in providing nitrogen supplement to plants and improvement of agricultural productivity. Plants generate a desirable micro-environment around their root-zone that promotes degradation of contaminants. In soil, degradation of toxic organic Apple Academic Press Author Copy Non Commercial Use 130 Bioremediation and Phytoremediation Technologies in Sustainable Soil Management, Volume 4 compounds through plant-associated bacteria includes endophytic and rhizospheric bacteria.
Sustainability
In the changing climatic conditions, species distribution modelling is considered as a key strate... more In the changing climatic conditions, species distribution modelling is considered as a key strategy to estimate the probable influence of climatic variabilities on the habitat ranges of any species. The present study explores the potential distribution of Aconitum heterophyllum under current and future climatic scenarios. The results unfold that the distribution of this endemic species is governed significantly by bio12, i.e., Annual Precipitation. Ensemble modelling predicted that higher altitudes of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh are suitable habitats for A. heterophyllum. However, the future climatic modelling revealed that there will be a significant decrease in the suitable habitats for A. heterophyllum. Most of the shrinkage of habitats is predicted to occur within the time period of 2050, which seriously challenges their survival. The present study recommends an urgent need to frame a pertinent conservation and management policy for Aconitum heterophyllum and will act as a framewo...
Bioremediation and Phytoremediation Technologies in Sustainable Soil Management
Pesticide application increases crop yield by controlling, repelling, or destroying pests; but th... more Pesticide application increases crop yield by controlling, repelling, or destroying pests; but their excessive use cause harmful effects to various life forms including humans. When applied in large amounts, the agricultural pesticides move longer distances and can reach the water table at observable concentration. Consequently, pesticides can contaminate the areas which are far away from the sites where they were used actually. Among different groups of pesticides, organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) are applied globally and constitute the crucial and most commonly applied group which accounts for almost 36% of the entire world market. Methyl parathion (MP) is one of the most commonly used OPs. It has been recorded across the world that excessive use of OPs leads to the contamination of soil and water bodies and exposure to OPs causes disastrous effects to human health, various life forms and ecosystems. Thus, decontaminating pesticide contaminated area is a costly affair. Microorganisms play an important role in biodegradation of pesticides due to their adaptive nature to the environment that is contaminated. Mostly, organophosphorus compounds (OPCs) are completely mineralized by the microorganisms. Microorganisms degrade most of the OPCs as carbon or phosphorus source. From microbes, different enzymes have been isolated for studying and understanding the pathways involved in the biodegradation of OPs. 6.1 INTRODUCTION Pesticides are toxic chemical substances which are applied to control, repel, destroy, prevent, or mitigate any pest, i.e., insects, nematodes, mites, weeds, Apple Academic Press Author Copy Non Commercial Use 160 Bioremediation and Phytoremediation Technologies in Sustainable Soil Management, Volume 4 rats, etc.; hence beneficial for agricultural productivity [102]. On an average, 35% of potential crop productivity is destroyed all over the world to pre harvest pests [118]. Besides these, losses of food chain are also comparatively huge [68]. The world population is projected to rise in 2050 by 30% to nearly 9.2 billion. Therefore, agriculture has to meet an increasing demand for biofuel, food, fiber, feed, and other bio-based commodities [102]. Depletion of yield because of pests, weeds, and pathogens are main challenges to agricultural production worldwide [119]. Among crops, the potential damage caused by the pests ranges from almost 50% in wheat yield to over 80% in production of cotton at global level. Studies found 26-29% loss for cotton, soybean, and wheat and 40%, 37% and 31% for potatoes, rice, and maize, respectively [76]. In United States only, around 9.2 billion USD (United State Dollar) are invested on pesticides annually for improving crop production [102]. The 15-20 fold rises in the quantity of globally applied pesticides significantly improved the crop protection [118]. However, their excessive use results in the contamination of environment [15]. The pesticides are classed into four main groups namely organochlorine (OC), organophosphate (OP), carbamate, and pyrethroid pesticides. One of the important groups of pesticides which are used broadly are OPs viz. methyl parathion (MP), diazonin, malathion, chlorpyrifos (CPS), dimethoate, endosulfan, profenofos, monocrotophos [151], fenithrothion, fenamiphos (FEN) [154], dicrotophos, and coumaphos (Table 6.1). The OPs are primarily used to protect crops from pests, but their unused portion along with their derivatives remain as contaminants in soils, which in turn leads to acidification of soil, fertility loss, improved weed species resistance, nitrate leaching and biodiversity loss [111, 165, 170]. OPs are neurotoxicants which act on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and inactivate AChE in both central and peripheral nervous system, as a result of which acetate and choline are formed [45]. Additionally, nerves are considerably over stimulated and blocked in mammals and insects. This suppression results in convulsion, paralysis, and finally death [154]. OPs also possess the proficiency for causing genotoxic and carcinogenic effect [82]. TABLE 6.1 Some Important OPs Along with Their Chemical Name Example Type Soil Half-Life (Days) Methyl parathion Insecticide 3-30
Sustainability
Plant resources have been used by humans for their wellbeing for ages. Tribal communities live in... more Plant resources have been used by humans for their wellbeing for ages. Tribal communities live in far flung areas in close proximity with forests and have a rich cultural heritage and traditional knowledge of forest resources. The present study was carried out in the Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir to document the traditional knowledge of plant usage and local perception towards biodiversity conservation. A total of 86 informants were selected through non-probability sampling using a convenience sampling method based on easy access, availability and relevance of informants. During the present study, a total of 92 plant species belonging to 85 genera and 57 families were recorded. Fabaceae and Rosaceae were found to be dominant families. In terms of growth forms, herbaceous species were dominant, followed by trees. Leaves were the most common parts used, followed by fruits. These plant species are used for different purposes such as medicine, edibles, fodder and dye making. A n...
Pesticides are toxic chemical substances which are intentionally liberated into the surroundings ... more Pesticides are toxic chemical substances which are intentionally liberated into the surroundings for the purpose of killing, controlling, mitigating the population of insects, weeds, rodents, and other harmful pests in agricultural, domestic, and industrial framework. Although pesticides are beneficial in controlling the growth of all these pests but their unregulated and indiscriminate use has increased their concentration in soil and water which is detrimental to human health, animals, and to the ecosystems. The population of the world is increasing at a very fast speed resulting to higher demand for the food. This demand can be solved by improving agricultural practices. However, this should be done in consonance with ecological balance which in turn advocates the depletion in the usage of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Therefore, keeping in view the ecological perspectives, plant-microbe interactions can be a better alternative for improving agriculture production and also facilitate the degradation of pesticides. Such interactions between plants and microbes can modify the physio-chemical and biochemical properties of soil. Symbiotic interactions of soil microbes with plants stimulate plant productivity by supplying limiting nutrients to the plants. One of the best studied interactions of plants and microbes is that of N 2 fixing bacteria and root nodules of legumes which play an important role in providing nitrogen supplement to plants and improvement of agricultural productivity. Plants generate a desirable micro-environment around their root-zone that promotes degradation of contaminants. In soil, degradation of toxic organic Apple Academic Press Author Copy Non Commercial Use 130 Bioremediation and Phytoremediation Technologies in Sustainable Soil Management, Volume 4 compounds through plant-associated bacteria includes endophytic and rhizospheric bacteria.
Sustainability
In the changing climatic conditions, species distribution modelling is considered as a key strate... more In the changing climatic conditions, species distribution modelling is considered as a key strategy to estimate the probable influence of climatic variabilities on the habitat ranges of any species. The present study explores the potential distribution of Aconitum heterophyllum under current and future climatic scenarios. The results unfold that the distribution of this endemic species is governed significantly by bio12, i.e., Annual Precipitation. Ensemble modelling predicted that higher altitudes of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh are suitable habitats for A. heterophyllum. However, the future climatic modelling revealed that there will be a significant decrease in the suitable habitats for A. heterophyllum. Most of the shrinkage of habitats is predicted to occur within the time period of 2050, which seriously challenges their survival. The present study recommends an urgent need to frame a pertinent conservation and management policy for Aconitum heterophyllum and will act as a framewo...
Bioremediation and Phytoremediation Technologies in Sustainable Soil Management
Pesticide application increases crop yield by controlling, repelling, or destroying pests; but th... more Pesticide application increases crop yield by controlling, repelling, or destroying pests; but their excessive use cause harmful effects to various life forms including humans. When applied in large amounts, the agricultural pesticides move longer distances and can reach the water table at observable concentration. Consequently, pesticides can contaminate the areas which are far away from the sites where they were used actually. Among different groups of pesticides, organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) are applied globally and constitute the crucial and most commonly applied group which accounts for almost 36% of the entire world market. Methyl parathion (MP) is one of the most commonly used OPs. It has been recorded across the world that excessive use of OPs leads to the contamination of soil and water bodies and exposure to OPs causes disastrous effects to human health, various life forms and ecosystems. Thus, decontaminating pesticide contaminated area is a costly affair. Microorganisms play an important role in biodegradation of pesticides due to their adaptive nature to the environment that is contaminated. Mostly, organophosphorus compounds (OPCs) are completely mineralized by the microorganisms. Microorganisms degrade most of the OPCs as carbon or phosphorus source. From microbes, different enzymes have been isolated for studying and understanding the pathways involved in the biodegradation of OPs. 6.1 INTRODUCTION Pesticides are toxic chemical substances which are applied to control, repel, destroy, prevent, or mitigate any pest, i.e., insects, nematodes, mites, weeds, Apple Academic Press Author Copy Non Commercial Use 160 Bioremediation and Phytoremediation Technologies in Sustainable Soil Management, Volume 4 rats, etc.; hence beneficial for agricultural productivity [102]. On an average, 35% of potential crop productivity is destroyed all over the world to pre harvest pests [118]. Besides these, losses of food chain are also comparatively huge [68]. The world population is projected to rise in 2050 by 30% to nearly 9.2 billion. Therefore, agriculture has to meet an increasing demand for biofuel, food, fiber, feed, and other bio-based commodities [102]. Depletion of yield because of pests, weeds, and pathogens are main challenges to agricultural production worldwide [119]. Among crops, the potential damage caused by the pests ranges from almost 50% in wheat yield to over 80% in production of cotton at global level. Studies found 26-29% loss for cotton, soybean, and wheat and 40%, 37% and 31% for potatoes, rice, and maize, respectively [76]. In United States only, around 9.2 billion USD (United State Dollar) are invested on pesticides annually for improving crop production [102]. The 15-20 fold rises in the quantity of globally applied pesticides significantly improved the crop protection [118]. However, their excessive use results in the contamination of environment [15]. The pesticides are classed into four main groups namely organochlorine (OC), organophosphate (OP), carbamate, and pyrethroid pesticides. One of the important groups of pesticides which are used broadly are OPs viz. methyl parathion (MP), diazonin, malathion, chlorpyrifos (CPS), dimethoate, endosulfan, profenofos, monocrotophos [151], fenithrothion, fenamiphos (FEN) [154], dicrotophos, and coumaphos (Table 6.1). The OPs are primarily used to protect crops from pests, but their unused portion along with their derivatives remain as contaminants in soils, which in turn leads to acidification of soil, fertility loss, improved weed species resistance, nitrate leaching and biodiversity loss [111, 165, 170]. OPs are neurotoxicants which act on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and inactivate AChE in both central and peripheral nervous system, as a result of which acetate and choline are formed [45]. Additionally, nerves are considerably over stimulated and blocked in mammals and insects. This suppression results in convulsion, paralysis, and finally death [154]. OPs also possess the proficiency for causing genotoxic and carcinogenic effect [82]. TABLE 6.1 Some Important OPs Along with Their Chemical Name Example Type Soil Half-Life (Days) Methyl parathion Insecticide 3-30