Contribution of water and radiation to growth and yield of pearl millet in Deccan plateau - A case study

In this study the agrometeorological data for the period from 1991 to 1997 have been used to study evapotranspiration demand and crop characteristics of pearl millet at Solapur. Crop coefficients, water use efficiency and radiation use efficiency have been worked out and discussed. This has been done for two varieties of the crop viz., ICTP-8203 and Shraddha. The study revealed that pearl millet crop consumed maximum amount of water during earhead emergence phase, followed by flowering phase. During earhead emergence and flowering phase together, ICTP-8203 variety used nearly 50% of total water used while shraddha consumed about 60%. The highest values of crop coefficient are seen during earhead emergence phase for both the varieties. Maximum photosynthetically active radiation is availed by the crop during its vegetative phase. Radiation use efficiency is more for ICTP-8203 variety than Shraddha variety.

Water requirement and growth of sorghum over semi-arid region in Deccan Plateau

Based on the result of an experiment conducted from 1978-86 during post-rainy crop season at Solapur, crop coefficients for sorghum during different stages of growth were determined. A model has been developed for relating consumptive use of water at different phenological stages in relation to climatic parameters and crop water needs. The extent to which water requirements of the crop are met and water use efficiency have been discussed. The water requirement appears to be maximum at tasseling/flowering phases of sorghum growth. It works out at 4 mm per day under Solapur environment. The seasonal rainfall in post-rainy season does not appear to furnish a reliable estimate of the yield.

Extended distribution of two endemic epiphytes from the Western Ghats to the Deccan Plateau

Extended distribution of two endemic epiphytes, viz., Hoya wightii Hook.f. (Apocynaceae) and Bulbophyllum fimbriatum Rchb.f. (Orchidaceae) from Western Ghats to Deccan Plateau is reported during field explorations undertaken to document the flora of Kalwan tehsil. The presence of these two species in the Deccan plateau indicates the need of further explorations to document the diversity and endemism of strict endemics of Western Ghats in Deccan plateau.

PRODUCTION OF ENZYMES IN PREDOMINANT THERMOPHILIC FUNGI AVAILABLE FROM ORGANIC SUBSTRATES

Present investigation describes that the study site comes under Aurangabad Division Maharashtra and it falls in Deccan Plateau Zone of India. It was collected different types of organic substrates viz. vermiompost, poultary manure, baggase, farm yard manure (FYM), soil, Ash etc. Isolated thermophilic predominant fungi thermophilic fungi viz.Aspergillus niger, Mucor mucedo,Humicola insolens,Trichoderma harzianum,T. viride,Penicillium duponti,Fusarium oxysporun and Chaetomium thermophilum were carried out for the production of enzymes. Isolated predominant thermophilic fungi were evaluated on different types of enzymes. Among tested thermophilic fungi, the highest ativity was observed in C. thermophilium (20mm) followed by T. harzianum (19.50mm) In lipase, M. mucedo (15.40mm) was found maximum followed by F. oxysporun. Cellulase activity was found highest in A. nige (25mm) followed by others. In case of xylanase, catalase, peroxidase and esterase activities were found maximum, minimum and medium even negative in some fungi. Maximum pectinase activity was detected from H. insolens (52.26 @ 0 min) and (74.25 @ 10 min) and in case of M. mucedo, F. oxysporun and C. thermophilium was found most extreme while least in A. niger (30.12) and P. duponti (33.47) @ 0 minute. Key words: Organic Substrates, Thermophilic Fungi, Enzymes

The Reproductive Performance of Native Osmanabadi Goat of India

Among the goat breeds of India, Osmanabadi goat breed is one of the most popular goat breed of the arid and semi-arid region of Maharashtra state. Historically this breed is known to exist on Deccan Plateau since decades. The name Osmanabadi is derived from its origin, i.e. Osmanabad district in Maharashtra state. The breeds is distributed mainly in 2 southern states of India viz. Western Telangana and North Eastern Karnataka state and are having largest contribution to meat production in Southern India as their meat is very tasty when compared with local breeds. The Osmanabadi breed is suited to all types of rearing systems, the most ideal being the semi-intensive system (grazing and closed enclosure) where higher production has been observed compared to extensive (grazing system) and intensive systems (zero grazing system). Osmanabadi goats reared in the Maharashtra, Karnataka and Telangana border region had been analysed with reproductive parameters and found that, the female kids attend puberty at the age of 349.8 ± 6.9 days with 17.45 ± 0.23 Kg body weight. The average gestation period found was 152.24 ± 0.24 days. The mean age at first kidding was found to be 494.4 ± 8.1 days. The average duration of post-partum anoestrus period was 67.34 ± 6.31 days which was responsible for short inter-kidding interval which shows high profile reproductive efficiency. The mean kidding interval recorded as 232.62 ± 5.45 days. Majority of kidding resulted in single births (87.27%) and with only 12.73% of multiple births. Breeding season and kidding season of Osmanabadi goats was observed from the month of June to September and November to February as a major.

A Scientific study of Forests of the Western Ghats

The Western Ghats in India’s Deccan Plateau has been recognized as one of the eight “hottest hot-spots” of biological diversity in the world. UNESCO has identified this region as a World Heritage Site. In Maharashtra, this mountain range is known as ‘Sahyadri’, ‘Dang forests’ in Gujarat, ‘Nilgiris’ in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, and ‘Malnad’ in Karnataka. It stretches across the six Indian states of Gujrat, Maharashtra, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and two union territories including Daman and Diu and Pondicherry. These hills begin near the border of Gujarat and Maharashtra, south of the Tapti river, and end at Kanyakumari, at the southern tip of India, covering an incredible 1,60,000 sq.km. In the 18th and 19th centuries, most of the people who classified the flora of these regions are hobbyists. Very few British Officers who conduct survey of this landscape release their books. A complete scientific study of this biodiversity hot-spot is yet to be undertaken. Until now, only a handful of scientists have undertaken a study of the Western Ghats. So, this present article expains a brief scientific study of the forests of the Western Ghats.

The dynamics of host participation in tourism for effectively offsetting agrarian crisis in Wayanad

Wayanad, the green paradise of Kerala, is located in the Southern most part of the Deccan Plateau. Wayanad, where , majority of the population completely depend on agriculture for their livelihood, has been facing a high magnitude agrarian crisis in the last few years. This district has witnessed a number of farmer suicides and as a result of this; farmers are forced ato look our for some additional source of livelihood along with agriculture. Having a remarkable image of a beautiful tourist destination, the government of Kerala has identified Wayanad as a Tourism District and tourism is an emerging sector here. The scenic beauty, exotic landscape and rich heritage sites of Waynad offer several opportunities for a 360 degree tourism expansion in the district. Considering the district wise foreign tourist arrivals, Wayanad shows the highest variation among other districts of Kerala in the last few years. In a fast urbanising country like Kerala, places such as Wayanad is one of the few Indian districts which still retain its charm as a rural district. It is not swept by mindless urbanization like many other regions of India. Of course, this unique characteristic gives enourmous tourism potential to the place. Keeping in view the distinctive features of Wayanad, especially the natural attractions and the indigenous culture, a sustainable tourism model can be an effective alternative to offset the agrarian crisis of the district. The present scenario of host community participation in th various facets of tourism in Wayanad is intensively studied in this paper. It aims at proposing concrete ways in which the benefits from tourism can be channelized productively to uplift the affected sections of society facing agrarian crisis in Wayanad.