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Papers by sourabh deb

Discover water, Apr 27, 2022

Spring is vital in all hilly areas. Without question, springs have aided in the advancement of hu... more Spring is vital in all hilly areas. Without question, springs have aided in the advancement of human civilization. Mountain springs supply water to rural families in the Northeast. This spring ecological study was conducted in Dhalai, Tripura, with socioeconomic policy significance. The springs chosen were Jamircherra (JS) and Govindabari (GS). The seasonal features of each spring were studied. The monsoon season is used to bring the life-giving flow of perennial springs. Several water quality indicators like WT, pH, EC, TDS, Turb, TH, DO, BOD, Ca +2 , Mg +2 , Cl − , No 3 , Po 4 were examined to assess the risk of spring contamination. The most common aberrant results are samples having excessive phosphate (PO 4 2−) and turbidity levels compared to norms. The spring's water quality was tested using the weighted arithmetic index methodology. The water quality at the two springs was adequate but not great throughout the year, causing human deaths from waterborne diseases. Thus, policy implementation was emphasized to save the spring and human life. A physicochemical evaluation of both springs was used to describe a techno-legal component of Environmental regulations.

Jaundice is a highly prevalent disease in Arunachal Pradesh and adjoining states of India which i... more Jaundice is a highly prevalent disease in Arunachal Pradesh and adjoining states of India which is generally treated by local traditional healers belonging to 26 communities of the state. As per records published in different adjoining states over 105 plants are used for the cure of jau ndice. Most of them are also available in Arunachal Pradesh and are also use by local traditional healers. The papers represents the plants used for the cure and management of jaundice by local traditional healers of 26 major communities of Arunachal Pradesh as well as the plants used for the same practice in ot her adjoini ng parts of the Country which are distributed or cultivated in Arunachal Pradesh.

This study was undertaken to explore the diversity of macrophytes and their utilization pattern i... more This study was undertaken to explore the diversity of macrophytes and their utilization pattern in Rudrasagar Lake of Tripura, which is a Ramsar site in India. We identified 31 species of macrophytes from the study site. Important Value Index (IVI) and Total value Index (TVI) of these plants were estimated to know their diversity and utilization pattern. Some of the dominant species included Nymphoides indica (L.) Kuntze, Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms, and Vallisneria spiralis L. The majority of local households using the macrophytes for domestic purposes. Macrophytes most preferred by the local people were Euryale ferox Salisb., Trapa natans var. Bispinosa and Ehnydra fluctuans Lour. We found that the dominant species of the lake were not always preferred by the community. Thus awareness and cultivation of the preferred species can reduce pressure on the availability of the highly preferred species and also improve the livelihoods of the wetland-dependent people of the area.

Indian Journal of Soil Conservation, 2011

The experiment was conducted to highlight the effect of increasing concentration of macro and mic... more The experiment was conducted to highlight the effect of increasing concentration of macro and micro-nutrients in soil by using plant residues along with Indian epigeic earthworm (Perionyx excavatus). The soil (1kg) collected from the different plant based agroforestry systems viz., Arecanut, Banana, bamboo and colocasia and mixed with specific residues to form a substrate. The worms experienced variation in the mortality rate, weight, production, number of hatchlings and fertility of the substrates by rapid decomposition of the matters in all treatments. Available nutrients were maximum in the residue with cowdung treated substrates and available- P in non-residue treated soil. The microbial biomass in the soil was less whereas microbial activity was more in residue with cowdung treated soil. Reduction of C: N ratio due to mineralization brought out by the combined action of earthworms and microbes. It was observed that the organic manure and cowdung treated soil had high soil ferti...

Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, 2009

Through an ethnobotanical survey of Barak-valley, about 150 naturally growing and frequently used... more Through an ethnobotanical survey of Barak-valley, about 150 naturally growing and frequently used medicinal plants were collected. Out of these collections, 24 plant species have been highly prioritised for conservation. Among these, population of Acorus calamus Linn., Aegle marmelos Linn., Artocarpus lakoocha Roxb., Costus speciosus (Koem.ex.Retz) Sm., Rauvolfia serpentina (L.) Benth.ex Kurz., Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers., etc are reducing day-by-day due to over-exploitation for medicinal purposes, felling for timber, etc. and also due to inherent poor natural regeneration. During the exploration, emphasis was given on herbal treatment for everyday common ailments and diseases, particularly used by the local tribes of Barak-valley such as Riang, Kachari, Hmar, Rongmai Naga, and Manipuri and Teagarden community. The study gives an account on the diversity of medicinal plants and priority medicinal plants for conservation. The study also warrants an herbal policy to address p...

Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, 2009

The ethno-botanically important species in traditional agroforests of Nyishi community of Arunach... more The ethno-botanically important species in traditional agroforests of Nyishi community of Arunachal Pradesh was studied during the year 2004-2005. The plants used by the local people for food, medicine and other ethnobotanical purposes including the utilization and related ethnobotanical aspects were assessed during the survey. A total of 80 useful plants belonging to 45 families and 69 genera were collected from 20 randomly selected agroforestry plots. Of the plants documented under 10 major categories, 47 species are used for food, 21 species are used in medicine and 35 species are used for other purposes.

Shifting agricultural practices of three tribes of Meghalaya viz., Khasi, Garo and Karbi were stu... more Shifting agricultural practices of three tribes of Meghalaya viz., Khasi, Garo and Karbi were studied to analyze and understand the technological innovations adopted by these communities in this age old practice. The methods used for this study involved participatory data collection on the socio-economics, agricultural practices and bio-physical resources through Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), household survey and participatory resource mapping of the villages. The study was carried out in six villages viz., Khrang, War-War, Kuswai, Khulia, Chekwatgre and Sasatgre, two each inhabited by Khasi, Karbi and Garo tribes, respectively. It was observed that a variety of indigenous technological innovations have been introduced by these communities for making the system more productive, less degradative and able to generate cash income for modern living. The innovations include: use of cover crops, retention of trees, prudent management of weeds, use of poles and logs for soil conserv...

The Indian Forester, 2008

Different parts of Arunachal Pradesh were surveyed to collect three genera Xylaria , Daldinia and... more Different parts of Arunachal Pradesh were surveyed to collect three genera Xylaria , Daldinia and Hypoxylon of the family Xylariaceae . A total of 10 species belonging to these genera were identified, which included eight species of Xylaria and one species each of Daldinia and Hypoxylon and are the first report from the state.

Trees are the prevalent component of a terrestrial ecosystem. They provide benefiting function by... more Trees are the prevalent component of a terrestrial ecosystem. They provide benefiting function by accumulating atmospheric Carbon. Instead of forest area, trees are generally found sporadically in every urban area within the boundaries of cities, towns along the road side or even in the periphery of settlement and institutional confinement. In the present study, we explored the potential of tree species richness in an institutional campus. The study constitutes an assessment of tree species richness, standing biomass and carbon stock of trees in Tripura University campus. A total of 66 tree species with 1301 individuals (40.69 individual ha-1) belonging to 56 genera from 32 families were identified. The dominant family was Mimosaceae and species was Acacia auriculiformis (n=524), followed by Cassia siamea (n=31) and Cassia fistula (n=25). The compositional pattern shows that number of individual with the lower DBH was higher and only 47 individuals were found in > 45 cm DBH class...

Key words : Agroforests, biodiversity, litter, microbial biomass, tropical forests. India has a t... more Key words : Agroforests, biodiversity, litter, microbial biomass, tropical forests. India has a total land area of 329 million ha, of which 43% is under cropping and 23% under forest (MOEn 1999). The National Forest Policy of India (1952) stipulated that country as a whole should aim at maintaining one-third of its total land area under forest for securing ecological stability. Northeast India harbors rich biological diversity and is rich in endemism. In the tropical forest lands, shifting cultivation or slash and burn agriculture is practiced widely that affects forest structure and species composition and subsequent abandonment results in the creation of a mosaic of forest patches of different ages (Ramakrisnan 1985). Further, logging, clear felling, grazing, fire and collection of fuel wood, fodder and non-timber forest products have also contributed significantly to forest degradation (Arunachalam et al. 2004). Thus most remaining forests are secondary, arising after significant...

Traditional agroforests, as one of the integrated approaches to environmental conservation has be... more Traditional agroforests, as one of the integrated approaches to environmental conservation has been considered as a superior system that permits significant and ecological interaction between the woody and non woody components. These traditional systems have been widely practiced by the people of Northeast India since time immemorial. A study has been conducted among three communities viz., Kalita (Assam) and Nyishi and Apatani (Arunachal Pradesh) of Northeast India to understand the structure, economy, soil quality and management aspects of traditional agroforestry systems. The study revealed that the systems have the potential to preserve the plant and animal diversity in different climatic zones of the region. Different plant species grown in these multistoried agroforestry systems are confounded by the livelihood requirements and traditional knowledge. The most prevalent agroforestry systems in Northeast India observed during the study are Agri-horti-silvi-pisciculture, Agri-hor...

International journal of ecology and environmental sciences, 2015

We investigated litter production, litter decomposition and nutrient dynamics from three traditio... more We investigated litter production, litter decomposition and nutrient dynamics from three traditional agroforestry systems in Harmutty (Assam) and Nirjuli and Doimukh (Arunachal Pradesh) in northeast India. Litter production was studied by using litter traps and decomposition of leaf litter by nylon net bag technique. On an average, litterfall was 1406 kg ha-1 yr-1 that was influenced by climatic variables. Canopy species such as Areca catechu and Gmelina arborea accounted for about 30% of the total litter production. Analysis of variance indicated significant difference at 0.05 level in leaf and non-leaf litter (F=16.25; P=2.96). Overall, leaf litterfall was greater during winter in Harmutty and Doimukh sites and during autumn in Nirjuli site. This is attributed to species characteristics. The litter biomass on the floor of different agroforestry sites varied from 455 to 755 kg ha-1. Trees provide about 75% of the total leaf litterfall; Areca catechu contributed 13%, followed by Als...

Forest Ecology and Management

Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability, 2013

ABSTRACT Management of crop residues can have important implications apart from the desired maint... more ABSTRACT Management of crop residues can have important implications apart from the desired maintenance of soil organic matter and improving plant growth. In order to test this hypothesis, field experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of plant residues, FYM and inorganic fertilizers on soil N and P mineralization and growth of Abelmoschus esculentus Linn. A randomized complete block design consisting of nine treatments including the control was usedwith three replications each. 'Okra' was selected as the test crop. The source of N, P and K was urea (containing 45% N), superphosphate (16% P), muriate of potash (60% K). The application of full NPKand half NPK doses recorded 72 and 84 germination percentage. Nevertheless, the plots amended with half NPK and full NPK doses did not significantly (F= 0.067, ñ< 0.05) increase the growth of crop. The regression analysis of shoot and root biomass shows positive correlation in each treatments.The study revealed that NPK amended soils showed two times more fruit biomass production than the plant residue amended soils. Net N mineralization in different treatments ranged from 0.112 to 0.410 mg g -1 day -1 .N mineralization significantly varied among the plots with inorganic fertilizers having the highest mineralized N followed by residues applied soils and controls the least. On the other hand, phosphorous mineralization was higher in fertilizer amended soils. Over all, crop residue management with supplementary chemical fertilizer loading could help have better yield response under business as usual' climate scenario.

Journal of Bamboo and Rattan, 2005

ABSTRACT Decomposition dynamics, nutrient mineralization and cell-wall degradation of leaf litter... more ABSTRACT Decomposition dynamics, nutrient mineralization and cell-wall degradation of leaf litter of Bambusa tulda and Dendrocalamus hamiltonii were studied in bamboo-based traditional agroforestry systems of Arunachal Pradesh. Initial litter chemistry showed the identical leaf characteristics of both the species, but the species cannot be considered as good residue, as both of them had a greater initial C/N ratio (>25). The decay pattern showed three distinct phases during the field incubation period (0–90 days, 90–180 days and 180–270 days). The annual decay rate (k) varied from 3.34 in D. hamiltonii to 3.52 in B. tulda. N and P release from the decomposing litter was influenced by the seasonal cycle of mineralization and immobilization processes. Net mineralization was rapid during the later stage of decomposition. N and P remaining after 90% of decomposition in the decomposing leaf litter were 8.85–9.45% and 0.47–1.40%, respectively, in B. tulda and D. hamiltonii. The concentration of lignin increased, whereas cellulose and hemicellulose decreased during decomposition. Overall, the study revealed that Bambusa sp. have a higher N content and less lignin and carbon contents in their leaf litter and in addition they decomposed more rapidly than the residues of Dendrocalamus sp. Hence, B. tulda can be considered more suitable than D. hamiltonii for nutrient enrichment in traditional agroforestry and/or in the rehabilitation of the degraded jhum land.

The need for an alternative drug for malaria initiated intensive efforts for developing new antim... more The need for an alternative drug for malaria initiated intensive efforts for developing new antimalarials from indigenous plants. The information from different tribal communities of northeast India along with research papers, including books, journals and documents of different universities and institutes of northeast India was collected for information on botanical therapies and plant species used for malaria. Sixty-eight plant species belonging to 33 families are used by the people of northeast India for the treatment of malaria. Six plant species, namely, Alstonia scholaris, Coptis teeta, Crotolaria occulta, Ocimum sanctum, Polygala persicariaefolia, Vitex peduncularis, have been reported by more than one worker from different parts of northeast India. The species reported to be used for the treatment of malaria were either found around the vicinity of their habitation or in the forest area of northeast India. The most frequently used plant parts were leaves (33%), roots (31%), ...

Discover water, Apr 27, 2022

Spring is vital in all hilly areas. Without question, springs have aided in the advancement of hu... more Spring is vital in all hilly areas. Without question, springs have aided in the advancement of human civilization. Mountain springs supply water to rural families in the Northeast. This spring ecological study was conducted in Dhalai, Tripura, with socioeconomic policy significance. The springs chosen were Jamircherra (JS) and Govindabari (GS). The seasonal features of each spring were studied. The monsoon season is used to bring the life-giving flow of perennial springs. Several water quality indicators like WT, pH, EC, TDS, Turb, TH, DO, BOD, Ca +2 , Mg +2 , Cl − , No 3 , Po 4 were examined to assess the risk of spring contamination. The most common aberrant results are samples having excessive phosphate (PO 4 2−) and turbidity levels compared to norms. The spring's water quality was tested using the weighted arithmetic index methodology. The water quality at the two springs was adequate but not great throughout the year, causing human deaths from waterborne diseases. Thus, policy implementation was emphasized to save the spring and human life. A physicochemical evaluation of both springs was used to describe a techno-legal component of Environmental regulations.

Jaundice is a highly prevalent disease in Arunachal Pradesh and adjoining states of India which i... more Jaundice is a highly prevalent disease in Arunachal Pradesh and adjoining states of India which is generally treated by local traditional healers belonging to 26 communities of the state. As per records published in different adjoining states over 105 plants are used for the cure of jau ndice. Most of them are also available in Arunachal Pradesh and are also use by local traditional healers. The papers represents the plants used for the cure and management of jaundice by local traditional healers of 26 major communities of Arunachal Pradesh as well as the plants used for the same practice in ot her adjoini ng parts of the Country which are distributed or cultivated in Arunachal Pradesh.

This study was undertaken to explore the diversity of macrophytes and their utilization pattern i... more This study was undertaken to explore the diversity of macrophytes and their utilization pattern in Rudrasagar Lake of Tripura, which is a Ramsar site in India. We identified 31 species of macrophytes from the study site. Important Value Index (IVI) and Total value Index (TVI) of these plants were estimated to know their diversity and utilization pattern. Some of the dominant species included Nymphoides indica (L.) Kuntze, Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms, and Vallisneria spiralis L. The majority of local households using the macrophytes for domestic purposes. Macrophytes most preferred by the local people were Euryale ferox Salisb., Trapa natans var. Bispinosa and Ehnydra fluctuans Lour. We found that the dominant species of the lake were not always preferred by the community. Thus awareness and cultivation of the preferred species can reduce pressure on the availability of the highly preferred species and also improve the livelihoods of the wetland-dependent people of the area.

Indian Journal of Soil Conservation, 2011

The experiment was conducted to highlight the effect of increasing concentration of macro and mic... more The experiment was conducted to highlight the effect of increasing concentration of macro and micro-nutrients in soil by using plant residues along with Indian epigeic earthworm (Perionyx excavatus). The soil (1kg) collected from the different plant based agroforestry systems viz., Arecanut, Banana, bamboo and colocasia and mixed with specific residues to form a substrate. The worms experienced variation in the mortality rate, weight, production, number of hatchlings and fertility of the substrates by rapid decomposition of the matters in all treatments. Available nutrients were maximum in the residue with cowdung treated substrates and available- P in non-residue treated soil. The microbial biomass in the soil was less whereas microbial activity was more in residue with cowdung treated soil. Reduction of C: N ratio due to mineralization brought out by the combined action of earthworms and microbes. It was observed that the organic manure and cowdung treated soil had high soil ferti...

Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, 2009

Through an ethnobotanical survey of Barak-valley, about 150 naturally growing and frequently used... more Through an ethnobotanical survey of Barak-valley, about 150 naturally growing and frequently used medicinal plants were collected. Out of these collections, 24 plant species have been highly prioritised for conservation. Among these, population of Acorus calamus Linn., Aegle marmelos Linn., Artocarpus lakoocha Roxb., Costus speciosus (Koem.ex.Retz) Sm., Rauvolfia serpentina (L.) Benth.ex Kurz., Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers., etc are reducing day-by-day due to over-exploitation for medicinal purposes, felling for timber, etc. and also due to inherent poor natural regeneration. During the exploration, emphasis was given on herbal treatment for everyday common ailments and diseases, particularly used by the local tribes of Barak-valley such as Riang, Kachari, Hmar, Rongmai Naga, and Manipuri and Teagarden community. The study gives an account on the diversity of medicinal plants and priority medicinal plants for conservation. The study also warrants an herbal policy to address p...

Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, 2009

The ethno-botanically important species in traditional agroforests of Nyishi community of Arunach... more The ethno-botanically important species in traditional agroforests of Nyishi community of Arunachal Pradesh was studied during the year 2004-2005. The plants used by the local people for food, medicine and other ethnobotanical purposes including the utilization and related ethnobotanical aspects were assessed during the survey. A total of 80 useful plants belonging to 45 families and 69 genera were collected from 20 randomly selected agroforestry plots. Of the plants documented under 10 major categories, 47 species are used for food, 21 species are used in medicine and 35 species are used for other purposes.

Shifting agricultural practices of three tribes of Meghalaya viz., Khasi, Garo and Karbi were stu... more Shifting agricultural practices of three tribes of Meghalaya viz., Khasi, Garo and Karbi were studied to analyze and understand the technological innovations adopted by these communities in this age old practice. The methods used for this study involved participatory data collection on the socio-economics, agricultural practices and bio-physical resources through Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), household survey and participatory resource mapping of the villages. The study was carried out in six villages viz., Khrang, War-War, Kuswai, Khulia, Chekwatgre and Sasatgre, two each inhabited by Khasi, Karbi and Garo tribes, respectively. It was observed that a variety of indigenous technological innovations have been introduced by these communities for making the system more productive, less degradative and able to generate cash income for modern living. The innovations include: use of cover crops, retention of trees, prudent management of weeds, use of poles and logs for soil conserv...

The Indian Forester, 2008

Different parts of Arunachal Pradesh were surveyed to collect three genera Xylaria , Daldinia and... more Different parts of Arunachal Pradesh were surveyed to collect three genera Xylaria , Daldinia and Hypoxylon of the family Xylariaceae . A total of 10 species belonging to these genera were identified, which included eight species of Xylaria and one species each of Daldinia and Hypoxylon and are the first report from the state.

Trees are the prevalent component of a terrestrial ecosystem. They provide benefiting function by... more Trees are the prevalent component of a terrestrial ecosystem. They provide benefiting function by accumulating atmospheric Carbon. Instead of forest area, trees are generally found sporadically in every urban area within the boundaries of cities, towns along the road side or even in the periphery of settlement and institutional confinement. In the present study, we explored the potential of tree species richness in an institutional campus. The study constitutes an assessment of tree species richness, standing biomass and carbon stock of trees in Tripura University campus. A total of 66 tree species with 1301 individuals (40.69 individual ha-1) belonging to 56 genera from 32 families were identified. The dominant family was Mimosaceae and species was Acacia auriculiformis (n=524), followed by Cassia siamea (n=31) and Cassia fistula (n=25). The compositional pattern shows that number of individual with the lower DBH was higher and only 47 individuals were found in > 45 cm DBH class...

Key words : Agroforests, biodiversity, litter, microbial biomass, tropical forests. India has a t... more Key words : Agroforests, biodiversity, litter, microbial biomass, tropical forests. India has a total land area of 329 million ha, of which 43% is under cropping and 23% under forest (MOEn 1999). The National Forest Policy of India (1952) stipulated that country as a whole should aim at maintaining one-third of its total land area under forest for securing ecological stability. Northeast India harbors rich biological diversity and is rich in endemism. In the tropical forest lands, shifting cultivation or slash and burn agriculture is practiced widely that affects forest structure and species composition and subsequent abandonment results in the creation of a mosaic of forest patches of different ages (Ramakrisnan 1985). Further, logging, clear felling, grazing, fire and collection of fuel wood, fodder and non-timber forest products have also contributed significantly to forest degradation (Arunachalam et al. 2004). Thus most remaining forests are secondary, arising after significant...

Traditional agroforests, as one of the integrated approaches to environmental conservation has be... more Traditional agroforests, as one of the integrated approaches to environmental conservation has been considered as a superior system that permits significant and ecological interaction between the woody and non woody components. These traditional systems have been widely practiced by the people of Northeast India since time immemorial. A study has been conducted among three communities viz., Kalita (Assam) and Nyishi and Apatani (Arunachal Pradesh) of Northeast India to understand the structure, economy, soil quality and management aspects of traditional agroforestry systems. The study revealed that the systems have the potential to preserve the plant and animal diversity in different climatic zones of the region. Different plant species grown in these multistoried agroforestry systems are confounded by the livelihood requirements and traditional knowledge. The most prevalent agroforestry systems in Northeast India observed during the study are Agri-horti-silvi-pisciculture, Agri-hor...

International journal of ecology and environmental sciences, 2015

We investigated litter production, litter decomposition and nutrient dynamics from three traditio... more We investigated litter production, litter decomposition and nutrient dynamics from three traditional agroforestry systems in Harmutty (Assam) and Nirjuli and Doimukh (Arunachal Pradesh) in northeast India. Litter production was studied by using litter traps and decomposition of leaf litter by nylon net bag technique. On an average, litterfall was 1406 kg ha-1 yr-1 that was influenced by climatic variables. Canopy species such as Areca catechu and Gmelina arborea accounted for about 30% of the total litter production. Analysis of variance indicated significant difference at 0.05 level in leaf and non-leaf litter (F=16.25; P=2.96). Overall, leaf litterfall was greater during winter in Harmutty and Doimukh sites and during autumn in Nirjuli site. This is attributed to species characteristics. The litter biomass on the floor of different agroforestry sites varied from 455 to 755 kg ha-1. Trees provide about 75% of the total leaf litterfall; Areca catechu contributed 13%, followed by Als...

Forest Ecology and Management

Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability, 2013

ABSTRACT Management of crop residues can have important implications apart from the desired maint... more ABSTRACT Management of crop residues can have important implications apart from the desired maintenance of soil organic matter and improving plant growth. In order to test this hypothesis, field experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of plant residues, FYM and inorganic fertilizers on soil N and P mineralization and growth of Abelmoschus esculentus Linn. A randomized complete block design consisting of nine treatments including the control was usedwith three replications each. 'Okra' was selected as the test crop. The source of N, P and K was urea (containing 45% N), superphosphate (16% P), muriate of potash (60% K). The application of full NPKand half NPK doses recorded 72 and 84 germination percentage. Nevertheless, the plots amended with half NPK and full NPK doses did not significantly (F= 0.067, ñ< 0.05) increase the growth of crop. The regression analysis of shoot and root biomass shows positive correlation in each treatments.The study revealed that NPK amended soils showed two times more fruit biomass production than the plant residue amended soils. Net N mineralization in different treatments ranged from 0.112 to 0.410 mg g -1 day -1 .N mineralization significantly varied among the plots with inorganic fertilizers having the highest mineralized N followed by residues applied soils and controls the least. On the other hand, phosphorous mineralization was higher in fertilizer amended soils. Over all, crop residue management with supplementary chemical fertilizer loading could help have better yield response under business as usual' climate scenario.

Journal of Bamboo and Rattan, 2005

ABSTRACT Decomposition dynamics, nutrient mineralization and cell-wall degradation of leaf litter... more ABSTRACT Decomposition dynamics, nutrient mineralization and cell-wall degradation of leaf litter of Bambusa tulda and Dendrocalamus hamiltonii were studied in bamboo-based traditional agroforestry systems of Arunachal Pradesh. Initial litter chemistry showed the identical leaf characteristics of both the species, but the species cannot be considered as good residue, as both of them had a greater initial C/N ratio (>25). The decay pattern showed three distinct phases during the field incubation period (0–90 days, 90–180 days and 180–270 days). The annual decay rate (k) varied from 3.34 in D. hamiltonii to 3.52 in B. tulda. N and P release from the decomposing litter was influenced by the seasonal cycle of mineralization and immobilization processes. Net mineralization was rapid during the later stage of decomposition. N and P remaining after 90% of decomposition in the decomposing leaf litter were 8.85–9.45% and 0.47–1.40%, respectively, in B. tulda and D. hamiltonii. The concentration of lignin increased, whereas cellulose and hemicellulose decreased during decomposition. Overall, the study revealed that Bambusa sp. have a higher N content and less lignin and carbon contents in their leaf litter and in addition they decomposed more rapidly than the residues of Dendrocalamus sp. Hence, B. tulda can be considered more suitable than D. hamiltonii for nutrient enrichment in traditional agroforestry and/or in the rehabilitation of the degraded jhum land.

The need for an alternative drug for malaria initiated intensive efforts for developing new antim... more The need for an alternative drug for malaria initiated intensive efforts for developing new antimalarials from indigenous plants. The information from different tribal communities of northeast India along with research papers, including books, journals and documents of different universities and institutes of northeast India was collected for information on botanical therapies and plant species used for malaria. Sixty-eight plant species belonging to 33 families are used by the people of northeast India for the treatment of malaria. Six plant species, namely, Alstonia scholaris, Coptis teeta, Crotolaria occulta, Ocimum sanctum, Polygala persicariaefolia, Vitex peduncularis, have been reported by more than one worker from different parts of northeast India. The species reported to be used for the treatment of malaria were either found around the vicinity of their habitation or in the forest area of northeast India. The most frequently used plant parts were leaves (33%), roots (31%), ...