Role of Forest Management in Environmental Studies with Reference to the Maintaining of Conservation Values

A forest is a type of ecosystem in which there is high density of trees occupying a relatively large area of land. An ecosystem is an ecological unit consisting of a biotic community together with it’s a biotic environment. In the case of forest, tress dominant the biotic landscape, although there are also other plants and animals. There are many types of forest, such as tropical, evergreen, deciduous and dry forest based on the climatic condition and types of trees present. Forests provide innumerable values to people, provide aspects that address both physical needs as well as the internal nature of people. Forest help cleanse the air by intercepting airborne particles, reducing heat, and absorbing such pollutants as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. Trees remove this air pollution by lowering air temperature, through respiration, and by retaining particulates. Erosion control has always started with tree and grass planting projects. Tree roots bind the soil and their leaves break the force of wind and rain on soil. Trees fight soil erosion, conserve rainwater and reduce water runoff and sediment deposit after storms. Herbs, shrubs and trees in the forests hold the topmost layer firmly by their roots. This does not allow natural forces like wind and water to carry away the topmost fertile layer of the soil easily. Hence, Forests prevent soil erosion. With forest conservation, animal species, insects and all the biodiversity of natural areas is protected. It is noteworthy that these beings and the local vegetation exert influence on conservation beyond deforestation and the regional climate, even interfering with the health of the local community. Keywords: Forest, Natural Resources, Implementation, Ecological Balance, Significance, Deforestation, Climatic Condition

Energy-Efficient Retrofit Measures to Achieve Nearly Zero Energy Buildings

Considering the 2021 IPCC report that justly attributes our deteriorating climatic condition to human doing, the need to develop nearly zero energy building (nZEB) practices is gaining urgency. However, rather than the typical focus on developing greenfield net-zero initiatives, retrofitting underperforming buildings could create significant scale climate positive impacts faster. The chapter accordingly discusses energy-efficient retrofitting methods under three categorical sectors—visual comfort (daylight-based zoning, shadings); thermal comfort and ventilation (solar radiation-based zoning, central atrium plus interior openings, insulation, and window replacement); energy consumption (efficient lighting system, and controllers, material and HVAC system optimization, PV panels as the renewable energy source). This chapter further substantiates these theoretical underpinnings with an implemented design scheme—an educational building within a cold semiarid climatic condition—to showcase the on-ground impact of these retrofitting strategies in reducing the energy used for heating and cooling and lighting purposes.

Appraisal of Cluster Front Line Demonstration on Rapeseed and Mustard in Biharand Jharkhand

Performance of ten varieties of rapeseed and mustard were assessed through cluster frontline demonstration (CFLD) under different agro-climatic condition of Bihar and Jharkhandcontinuously for four years (2017-18 to 2020-21) by the KVKs of Bihar and Jharkhand.Among the agro-climatic zones of Bihar, highest yield was recorded in the demonstratedplot from zone III (B) i.e. South-West alluvial plain in case of variety RH 0749 (15.29 q/ha) and in Jharkhand state from zone I (Central and North astern plateau) with varietyNRCHB 101 (13.31 q/ha). Lowest technology index was observed for variety RajendraSufalam in all the zone (-4.96, 5.53, 7.18 and 22.92 % in zone I, III (B), III (A) & II) ofBihar and NRCHB 101 (23.15% in zone I) in Jharkhand. The range of extension gapwas1.38 to 4.37 and 1.13 to 4.86 q/ha under the agro-climatic zone of Bihar and Jharkhand,respectively. Pooled data shows that in Bihar, maximum net return (Rs. 46986 /ha) wasobtained in variety Rajendra Sufalam in agro-climatic zone III A of Bihar with benefit costratio 3.85:1 whereas under agro-climatic condition of Jharkhand maximum net return (Rs.39598 /ha) was recoded from variety NRCHB 101 with benefit cost ratio 2.80:1

Climate Change and Its Impact on Soil Fertility and Life Forms

Climate change can disturb the characteristics of the soil either indirectly, or directly, or both. The direct effects include changes in the soil properties and composition by organic carbon transformation, precipitation, temperature, and % of moisture. The indirect impact includes nutrient cycling, improved soil erosion rate due to an increase in rate and intensity of rainfall, irrigation facility, changes in the crop rotation, and spadework practices. The presence of soil organic carbon (SOC) greatly influenced by the climatic condition. The crop cultivation depends upon the exchange of carbon between the troposphere and soil, which also vastly influences the fertility of the soil. The use, development, and management of soil depend upon soil structure, soil texture, soil stability, water holding capacity of the soil, availability of the nutrients, and erosion of the soil. Hence, deterioration of soil fertility by climatic change may affect the several soil lifeforms like fauna and flora either directly, or indirectly through nutritional value of the soil.

Palaeoclimatic significance of non - striate disaccate pollen in Yellandu coalfield of Godavari graben, Telangana State

The present palaeopalynological study deals with the significance of non - striate disaccate pollen from bore hole Q - 563 of Yellandu coalfield (Jawahar Khani - 5 coal block), Kothagudem sub-basin and to determine the age and palaeoclimatic interpretations of the study area based on the pollen morphological characters. For the palynological investigation, sixty samples were thoroughly analyzed in which fairly diversified palynofloral assemblages of Gondwanic affinity were recorded. About 30 genera and 50 species of palynomorphs, belong to Glossopteridales, Coniferales, Cordaitales of gymnospermous pollen, pteridophytic spores. In the present communication, the palynoflora belongs to Glossopteridales viz. Scheuringipollentites barakarensis, S. maximus, S. tentulus, Ibisporites diplosaccus, Primuspollenites levis, P. densus and Sahnites thomasii etc. Frequency distribution pattern of the palynotaxa reveals that the assemblage is dominated by the non - striate disaccates followed by striate disaccates, monosaccates (gymnosperms) and pteridophytic spores. The diversified palynoassemblage of both non striate and striate disaccates pollen strongly signifies that the Yellandu coal belt of Godavari graben belongs to Barakar Formation of Early Permian age (Late Sakmarian – Early Artinskian). Predominance of non - striate disaccate pollen recorded from the Yellandu sediments indicates a warm and high humid climatic condition with fluvial environment of deposition.

Semi-transparent Photovoltaic Thermal Greenhouse System Combined with Earth Air Heat Exchanger for Hot Climatic Condition

Semi-transparent photovoltaic thermal (SPVT) greenhouse system combined with an earth air heat exchanger (EAHE) has been developed to make the system sustainable. The system is designed to cultivate plants in a hot climatic condition, where green net is provided which bifurcates the enclosed space of the greenhouse into zone-1 and zone-2, and this green net cuts the solar radiation incident on the plants. The influence of air changes in zone-1, mass flow rate of air flowing through EAHE, and packing factor on PV cell, air of the greenhouse, and the plant temperatures is investigated for a typical harsh summer day by using periodic model of these parameters. Further, for a holistic performance assessment of this SPVT greenhouse, exergy, thermal load leveling, and decrement factor are evaluated. Results indicate that the optimum temperature range for plant growth (30 °C- 37 °C) within the greenhouse can be achieved through a combination of ventilation in zone-1 and integration of EAHE. The temperature of plants reduced by 9 °C for 30 air changes in zone-1, and the temperature reduces further by 24 °C when EAHE having a flow rate of 0.5 kg/s is operated. The SPVT greenhouse system also generates 128 kWh of daily overall exergy that makes the system sustainable.

Assessing suitability of temperature-based reference evapotranspiration methods for semi-arid basin of Maharashtra

FAO Penman-Monteith (FAO-PM) is deemed as a sole standard method for estimating reference evapotranspiration (ET ). However, limited availability of meteorological data at spatial and temporal o scales restricts the application of this method. To address this issue, the FAO 56 experts suggested three methods when only maximum and minimum temperature data are available: (i) Temperature-based Penman-Monteith (PMT-1) method wherein T ≈ T (ii) PMT-2 wherein T ≈ T -2.5, and (iii) dew min dew min Hargreaves method. These ET methods were assessed for a semi-arid basin of Western India which lacks adequate climatic data. The performances of the ET methods were evaluated against the standard FAO-PM method using salient statistical and graphical indicators, together with the sensitivity analysis. The results of the three temperature-based methods had a tendency of over-predication of ET in the study area. The PMT-1 method, however, provided superior ET estimates compared to PMT-2 and Hargreaves methods. For estimating monthly ET , the FAO-PM method was most sensitive to temperature. Further, ET of the monsoon season over the study area increased from 5 to 12% during 'drought' years compared to 'normal' years. It was concluded that PMT-1 method is the most suitable temperature-based method for estimating ET in semi-arid regions under limited climatic condition.

Microclimate suitability for green and coloured sweet pepper hybrids in open and protected structures in sub-tropical humid climate of West Bengal

A study was undertaken for two consecutive seasons (autumn-winter) to evaluate the performance of three green, red and yellow-fruited sweet pepper hybrids in open field and under two protected structures (50% green shade net house and naturally-ventilated polyhouse) to understand the microclimate suitability for maximizing the productivity of these hybrids under sub-tropical humid climatic condition of eastern India. In this climatic condition, naturally-ventilated polyhouse was most suitable for enhancing fruit yieldof both green and coloured fruited hybrids. Open field condition was not suitable for both yellow and redfruited hybrids. Though green-fruited hybrids could be grown in open field condition, fruit yield was more than double under polyhouse. Shade net house could not be considered as a suitable protected structure for sweet pepper in this climatic condition because of reduced light intensity and high relative humidity inside it causing low fruit set and high incidence of bacterial wilt disease. Maximum/minimum temperature30oC to 33oC / 14oC to 17oC with comparatively reduced light intensity of 35,000 to 55,000 lux, prevention of adverse effect of low night temperature during winter and  60 per cent relative humidity condition during flowering, fruit set and fruit development period inside the naturally ventilated polyhouse were most suitable growing conditions for getting maximum productivity of both green and colour-fruited hybrids of sweet pepper.