Fifty-one new additions to the butterfly (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) fauna of Tripura, North-east India

The state of Tripura of North-east India is a part of the Indo-Myanmar biodiversity hotspot and rich in unique biological flora and fauna. The present study is based on extensive surveys done by the author for a period of 5 years in different parts of North Tripura, North-east India. Here, I present a total of 21 genera and 51 species that are new additions to the butterfly fauna of Tripura. These new records include 18 species of Hesperiidae, 12 species of Lycaenidae, 17 species of Nymphalidae and 4 species of Pieridae. These records represent a 20.90% increase in the number of butterflies known from Tripura and update the existing checklist of butterfly fauna of the state.

Straw application and soil organic carbon change: A meta-analysis

Straw return is considered an effective way to improve the soil organic carbon (SOC) content of farmland. Most studies have suggested that a straw application increases the SOC content; however, some suggest that a straw application reduces the SOC content when used in combination with mineral fertilisation. Therefore, a meta-analysis of the effect of a straw application on the SOC change is needed. This study comprises a meta-analysis of 115 observations from 65 research articles worldwide. Straw applications can significantly increase the proportion of the SOC in the soil. Straw applications caused a significant microbial biomass carbon (MBC) increase in tropical and warm climatic zones. The MBC increase was higher than the SOC increase. For agriculture, the most important soil functions are the maintenance of the crop productivity, the nutrient and water transformation, the biological flora and activity, and the maintenance of the microbial abundance and activity. These functions should be prioritised in order to maintain the SOC function and services. Straw applications should not be excessive, especially when combined with mineral fertilisation, in order to avoid the loss of carbon from the straw in the form of greenhouse gases. A large amount of unused fertiliser also leads to a series of environmental problems.