Diversity of Grass Species from Sendhwa Dist. Barwani (M.P.), India

The present study was aimed to determining Diversity of grass species of Sendhwa Dist. Barwani, Madhya Pradesh, India. Sendhwa is bestowed with unique diversity of ethnic culture and natural resource. The present study is based on diversity of grass species in Satpura region of Sendhwa Dist. Barwani, of Madhya Pradesh, India during the period of 2017-2020. This area is the representative of climax vegetation and rich in grass biodiversity. On the basis of grass utility three species are abundantly found along with 38 genera and 45 species are frequently occurred in Sendhwa dist. Barwani. The data from the primary and secondary sources resulted in the documentation of 45 species belonging to 38 genera. The study area has a rich species diversity of grasses. Present study observes some wild economically important grasses which are Brachiaria reptans (L.) Gard. & Hubb., Echinochloa colonum (L.) Link., Oryza rufipogon Griff., Pennesetum pedicelatum Trin. , Phragmites karka (Retz.) trin ex. Steud., Sporobolus capillaries Miq., Sorghum halepense (L.) Kuntz., Urochloa panicoides P.Beauv. This documentation will be helpful to the staff of Forest department and for better management of grasslands with special reference to wildlife habitat.

Water Quality, Soil Characteristics and Vegetation Diversity Along Effluent-dominated Rivers in Western Rajasthan, India

This study aimed at analysing water quality of effluent-dominated seasonal rivers and its impacts on soil and vegetation. Effluent-inflicted, river-edge and non-polluted areas were selected at 5 places along Luni, Bandi and Jojari rivers in western Rajasthan. Water of rivers exhibited high pH (7.6-8.6), electrical conductivity (EC 2.45-38.3 dSm-1), total dissolved and suspended solids, alkalinity and Na (1.50-30.00 gL-1), K, Ca and Mn (25.2-2439.3 µgL-1) concentrations and low NH4-N (1.08-20.69 mgL-1), NO3-N (0.44-9.10 mgL-1) and PO4-P (3.10-13.40 mgL-1). Most variables were highest for Luni and lowest for Bandi River. Cu, Co, Se, Cd and Pb concentrations were <180 µgL-1. Soil pH, EC and PO4-P were highest along Bandi, whereas NH4-N, NO3-N and K were highest along Jojari River in both 0-30 and 30-60 cm soil layers. Effluent-inflicted soils exhibited high pH, EC and PO4-P, whereas non-polluted soils showed high NH4-N, NO3-N and K availability. These soil variables decreased downstream. Plant species number ranged between 34 along Luni and 20 along Jojari (total 10 trees, 10 shrubs and 29 herbaceous). Species richness (R) and diversity (H’) of trees were highest along Bandi. Shrubs and herbaceous R, H’ and evenness (e’) were high along Luni. Least diverse vegetation was along Jojari. Non-polluted area exhibited high tree R and H’, whereas river-edge showed high herbaceous R and H’. Effluent-inflicted area showed high salts and low diversity, but dominated by Aeluropus lagopoides, Paspalum virgatum, Phragmites karka, Tamarix ericoides, etc., which can be used in restoring such degraded urban areas.

Sono-Assisted Alkali and Dilute Acid Pretreatment of Phragmites karka (Tall Reed Grass) to Enhance Enzymatic Digestibility for Bioethanol Conversion

Phragmites is the tallest energy crop found as an invasive species worldwide and considered as waste biomass. The present study evaluated the potential of the aquatic biomass Phragmites karka grown from two different lakes as feedstock for biofuel production. A comparative study of biomass was conducted from Chilika Lake and Loktak Lake, India. The methodology involves dilute acid, sono-assisted alkali pretreatment, and hydrolyzed biomass with commercial cellulase. SEM, XRD, and FTIR analysis were performed for the biomass physicochemical studies and confirmed that alterations occurred in the biomass structure, assisting the hydrolysis process. The enzymatic hydrolysis result showed that the highest of reducing sugar yield of 79% was obtained from biomass loading of 10% and 1% w/v alkali with a sonication frequency of 20 kHz for 25 min. Acid pretreatment released maximal reducing sugar yield of 73% attained from biomass loading of 20% and 0.5% w/v acid. Composition analysis of biomass showed that cellulose content increased from 36% to 46%. Sono-assisted alkali pretreatment solubilized 40% of lignin content compared to untreated biomass. Final ethanol recovery from the biomass is 78% fermentation efficiency from glucose. The data indicate that exploiting tall reed grass as a bioenergy raw material can be a viable approach for sustainable utilization of invasive grass/waste biomass for biorefineries, which helps control invasive weeds and management of waste.