Browsing by Author "Bhalendra Singh Rajput"

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Bio-economic appraisal of different land use systems with altitudinal gradients in the valley area of Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh
(2014) Bhalendra Singh Rajput; D.R. Bhardwaj
Studies on bio-economic appraisal of different land use systems in temperate north-western Himalayas were carried out in the valley ecosystem of Kullu district (31°58'00" N latitude and 77°06'4" E longitude) of Himachal Pradesh during 2008-09. These experiments were laid out in randomized block design (factorial). In the valley ecosystem, seven land use systems selected were : cereal-cereal, cereal-vegetable, vegetable-vegetable, orchard+cereal-cereal, orchard+cereal-vegetable, orchard+vegetable-vegetable and pure orchard and four altitudinal gradients viz., 1000-1300 m, 1300-1600 m, 1600-1900 m and 1900-2200 m a. s. 1. The valley ecosystem, orchard+vegetable- vegetable land use system situated at 1600-1900 m a. s. 1. displayed net profit of Rs. 10,23,430/ha/year at all the four altitudinal gradients. Benefit : cost ratio in the valley ecosystems was maximum (3.3) in pure fruit tree (apple and plum) based land use system situated at 1600-1900 ma. s. 1.
Carbon dioxide mitigation potential and carbon density of different land use systems along an altitudinal gradient in north-western Himalayas
(Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2015) Bhalendra Singh Rajput; D.R. Bhardwaj; Nazir A. Pala
The present study estimated the biomass, carbon density and carbon dioxide mitigation potential of different land use systems along an altitudinal gradient in valley ecosystem showing variation in biodiversity because of changing climatic conditions. Seven different land use systems/crop rotations viz., cereal–cereal, cereal–vegetable, vegetable–vegetable, orchard + cereal–cereal, orchard + cereal–vegetable, orchard + vegetable–vegetable and pure orchard at four altitudinal gradients viz, 1,000–1,300, 1,300–1,600, 1,600–1,900 and 1,900–2,200 m above mean sea level and approximately 1 °C temperature gradient were assessed. The results revealed that different land use systems have significant influence on the production of above ground biomass, below ground biomass, carbon density and carbon mitigation potential. Maximum above ground biomass (75.64 Mg ha−1) and below ground biomass (23.60 Mg ha−1) was accumulated in orchard + cereal–cereal system. Total biomass production of different land use systems in valley ecosystem followed the order of orchard + cereal–cereal > orchard + cereal–vegetable > orchard + vegetable–vegetable > pure orchard > cereal–cereal > cereal–vegetable > vegetable–vegetable. Rate of CO2 mitigation potential was maximum (7.81 Mg ha−1 year−1) in the orchard + cereal–cereal based land use system situated at an altitudinal range of 1,900–2,200 m. Maximum carbon density (90.88 Mg ha−1) of both soil + plant was also observed in orchard + cereal–cereal based land use systems at 1,300–1,600 m above mean sea level. © 2015, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.
Carbon storage and economic efficiency of fruit-based systems in semi-arid region: a symbiotic approach for sustainable agriculture and climate resilience
(Springer Nature, 2024) Manoj Kumar Singh; Sarwan Kumar Yadav; Bhalendra Singh Rajput; Prashant Sharma
Enhancing our understanding of carbon (C) stock in diverse horticulture and fruit-based agroforestry systems has potential to provide farmers with supplementary advantages in terms of poverty alleviation and livelihood development which can significantly benefit C market initiatives like UN-REDD (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation). Therefore, the current study aimed to assess the biomass accumulation, C storage and economic efficacy of seven agro-ecosystems, namely guava-based agri-horticulture system (AHS), mango-AHS, guava- pure orchard (PO), mango-PO, Indian gooseberry -PO, teak boundary plantation (TBP) and annual cropping system (ACS) under two different landscape positions viz., upland and lowland in the semi-arid region of Vindhyan ranges. The result indicated that mango-AHS accumulated significantly (p < 0.05) higher biomass (26.01 t ha−1) and vegetation C density (13.01 t C ha−1) whereas, soil (35.23 t C ha−1), litter (0.64 t C ha−1), and total C density (46.63 t C ha−1) was maximum under mango-PO closely followed by mango-AHS. The guava-PO system exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) higher C sequestration (2.11 t C ha−1 yr−1), and CO2 abatement (7.76 t CO2 ha−1 yr−1) rate compared to other systems with C credit generation of 129.76 US$ ha−1 year−1. However, mango-AHS was the most lucrative system providing net returns of 4835.48 US$ ha−1 yr−1 and 5.87 benefit–cost ratio. The C credits help in getting farmers an additional income; however, the economic impact of C credit was low (1.16–6.80%) when weighed against the overall economic efficacy of the different systems. Overall, the study concluded that farmers in the region should adopt fruit-based systems, especially agroforestry systems to establish mutually beneficial relationships between mitigation of climate change and livelihood stability. Graphical Abstract: (Figure presented.). © The Author(s) 2024.
Economic analysis of different land use systems in temperate North-Western Himalayas
(2014) Bhalendra Singh Rajput; D.R. Bhardwaj
Studies on economic analysis of different land use systems in temperate north-western Himalayas were carried out in the mountainous ecosystem of Kullu district (3158'00" N latitude and 77°06'4" E longitude) of Himachal Pradesh during 2008-09. These experiments were laid out in randomized block design (Factorial). For conducting an experiment in mountainous ecosystem, four altitudinal ranges having an altitudinal range of more than 1100-2300 m a. s. I. were selected as replicates. Each range was then further divided into four altitudinal gradients viz., 1100-1400, 1400-1700, 1700-2000 and 2000-2300 m a. s. 1. In each altitudinal range, five land use systems viz., agriculture, agri-horticuture, horticulture, silvi-pasture and forests were selected. In the mountainous ecosystem, agri-horticulture land use system situated at 1700-2000 m a. s. 1. displayed net profit of Rs. 9,69,194/ha/year. With the altitudinal gradient, the maximum benefit : cost ratio (6.31) in the mountainous ecosystem was recorded in silvi-pasture land use system situated at 20002300 m a. s. 1. The benefit : cost ratio is maximum (5.03) in the forest based land use system, which is closely followed by the land use systems of silvi-pasture (4.73), horticulture (3.56) agri-horticulture (2.94) and agriculture (1.39), respectively, in the descending order.
Effect of row spacing and moisture conservation practices on production potential of maize (Zea mays L.) in guava (Psidium guajava L.) based agrihorti system under rainfed condition
(Enviro Media, 2014) Bhalendra Singh Rajput; Nitya Nand Shukla; Pravesh Kumar; Avijit Sen; D.R. Bhardwaj
Observation was made on "Effect of row spacing and moisture conservation practices on production potential of maize in guava (Psidium guajava L.) Based agri-horti system under rainfed condition" at Agronomy farm of Rajiv Gandhi South Campus, Bañaras Hindu University, Barkachha Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh (India) during kharif season of 2012-13. The site of experimental field is situated at 25° 10' North latitude, 82° 37 East longitudes, 427 meters above mean sea level in the semi-arid eastern plain zone. The field experiment was conducting under seven years old guava based agrihorti system with split plot design having three levels of row spacing (30cm, 45cm and 60cm) and four level of mulching (No mulch, paddy straw mulch, green weed mulch and dust mulch). The height, girth and canopy of the tree in seven years old guava were up to 3.15m, 21.50cm and 5.90m, respectively. Paddy straw mulch at 60 cm row spacing gave the highest number of grain cob-1 (358.07). Row spacing of 60 cm and paddy straw mulch produced significantly more grain weight plant-1 (64.13 g) over the all other mulch treatments. Row spacing at 45 cm produced significantly higher grain yield (52.21 q ha-1) over the 30 cm and 60 cm row spacing. Due to mulching treatments, grain yield significantly improved and highest grain yield (52.32 q ha-1) was recorded with the application of paddy straw mulch followed by green weed mulch (50.11 q ha-1) and dust mulch (49.38 q ha-1). In overall comparison, the pure maize crop yield was higher as compared to tree-crop system. © EM International.
Factors influencing biomass and carbon storage potential of different land use systems along an elevational gradient in temperate northwestern Himalaya
(Springer Netherlands, 2017) Bhalendra Singh Rajput; D.R. Bhardwaj; Nazir A. Pala
We observed the influence of five different altitudes and prevailing agro ecosystems on biomass and carbon sequestration potential in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, India. The study area had five prevailing land uses viz., agriculture, agro-horticulture, horticulture, silvi-pasture, and forest at four elevations representing about 1 °C temperature change. The results showed that maximum total biomass of 404.35 Mg C ha−1 was accumulated by forest landuse and followed a decreasing trend in the order as forest > silvi-pasture > agro-horticulture > horticulture > agriculture. Similar trends were also seen with respect to biomass carbon (C) density and C-sequestration potential of different land uses. Biomass and carbon density potential enhanced with the increase in the altitudinal ranges from 1100–1400 to 2000–2300 m a.s.l. But, the rate of C-sequestration potential enhanced from 1100 to 2000 m and declined at 2000–2300 m a.s.l. Maximum carbon density (393.29 Mg C ha−1) of both plant as well as soil was displayed by the forest-based land use systems situated at an altitudinal gradient of 2000–2300 m a.s.l. The rate of C-sequestration was maximum (2.17 Mg ha−1) in the agro-horticulture at 2000–2300 m a.s.l. This study brings out the potential of different land use systems influenced by varying factors on their C-sequestration potential in western Himalayan elevation gradient, thereby providing useful information for effective management in a climate change mitigation and carbon budget. © 2016, The Author(s).
Soil microbial characteristics in sub-tropical agro-ecosystems of North Western Himalaya
(Indian Academy of Sciences, 2018) Rahul Singh; D.R. Bhardwaj; Nazir A. Pala; Rajesh Kaushal; Bhalendra Singh Rajput
Eight predominant land use systems, viz. agriculture (T1), horticulture (T2), agrisilviculture (T3), silvopastoral (T4), agrihorticulture (T5), agrihortisilviculture (T6), forest (T7) and grassland (T8) of subtropical parts of Himachal Pradesh were selected along two altitudinal ranges A1 (365-635 m amsl) and A2 (636- 914 m amsl) to observe the variation in soil microbial activity and microbial characteristics. Agroforestry land uses and forest ecosystems displayed significantly higher microbial counts and microbial biomass carbon than agriculture and grasslands. The CO2 evolution (soil microbial activity) was found higher inagrisilviculture, agrihortisilviculture, forest and grassland use systems at both altitudinal ranges. Soil biological properties (microbial count, microbial biomass and microbial activity) were maximum in forest landuse system. Among the agroforestry land-use systems, agrisilviculture had significantly higher microbial counts. The maximum microbial count (164.50 × 105 cfu g-1 soil) was recorded in forest and remained statistically at par with agrisilviculture (162.34 × 105 cfu g-1 soil). Minimum microbial count (80.66 × 105 cfu g-1 soil) was observed in agriculture land use. At both the altitudinal ranges, the CO2 evolution was highest at 48 h time interval and decreased thereafter. The metabolic quotient (qCO2) indicated that C-use efficiency is higher in grassland use and agriculture land use systems than other studied systems. © 2018 Current Science Association, Bengaluru.
Soil organic carbon stock under different land use systems in mountainous ecosystem
(Ecological Society of India, 2016) Bhalendra Singh Rajput; D.R. Bhardwaj; K.P. Dwivedi; Dileep Kumar
Soil physico-chemical property revealed maximum bulk density (1.25 g cm-3) in the agriculture land use system and least in the forest land use system (0.97 g cm-3). The bulk density recorded at the upper soil layer (0-20 cm) was be significantly lower than the deeper soil layer (20-40 cm). Maximum soil organic carbon (2.50%) was found in the forest land use system and least in agriculture land use system (0.68%). The soil organic carbon also enhanced significantly with the ascending altitudinal ranges. Forest land use system displayed the maximum value of soil organic carbon stock (49.04 t ha-1) and least in agriculture land use system (16.94 t ha-1). In the altitudinal range, the total soil organic carbon stock increased with increasing altitudinal range. Soil organic carbon stock in 0-20 cm in layer was significantly higher than that of lower layer. Maximum soil organic carbon stock (0-40 cm layer) was recorded in forest land use system (98.08 t ha-1), which was followed by agri-horticultural (41.05 t ha-1) and horticultural system (39.16 t ha-1). © 2016, Ecological Society of India. All rights reserved.
Variation of soil organic carbon stocks under different land use systems in the valley ecosystems of Kullu District of Himachal Pradesh
(EM International, 2016) Bhalendra Singh Rajput; D.R. Bhardwaj; K.P. Dwivedi; S.N. Singh; R.K. Singh; Bijoya Mondai
The study was carried out in the valley area of Kullu District, Himachal Pradesh. The seven land uses selected were: cereal-cereal, cereal-vegetable, vegetable-vegetable, orchard + cereal-cereal, orchard + cereal-vegetable, orchard + vegetable-vegetable and pure orchard and four altitudinal gradients viz., 1000-1300 m, 1300-1600 m, 1600-1900 m and 1900-2200 m above sea level were selected. Soil physico-chemical property reveals that maximum bulk density (1.92 g cm-3) was recorded in the orchard + vegetable-vegetable land use system and least in orchard+ cereal-vegetable (1.20 g cm-3), respectively. Maximum soil organic carbon (0.85%) was found in the pure orchard and orchard +vegetable-vegetable (0.82%) and least in cereal-cereal land use system (0.72%), respectively. The soil organic carbon percent also enhanced significantly with the ascending altitudinal ranges. Orchard +vegetable-vegetable land use system displayed the maximum value of soil organic carbon stock (20.021 ha-1) and least in cereal-cereal land use system (17.01 tha-1), respectively. In the altitudinal range, the total soil organic carbon stock increased with increasing altitudinal range. Maximum soil organic carbon stock (0-40 cm layer) was recorded in orchard +vegetable-vegetable land use system (40.87 tha-1), which was followed by orchard +cereal-vegetable (40.08 tha-1) orchard +cereal-cereal (39.30 tha-1), respectively.