Browsing by Author "Kuldeep Kumar"

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Comparative study on humidity sensing abilities of synthesized mono and poly rhodium acryl amide tin oxide (RhAAm/SnO2) nanocomposites
(Elsevier B.V., 2021) Lava Kumar Gupta; Kuldeep Kumar; B.C. Yadav; T.P. Yadav; G.I. Dzhardimalieva; I.E. Uflyand; Shripal
The present work details the comparative study on humidity detection abilities of the Rhodium Acrylamide SnO2 (RhAAm/SnO2) and frontal polymerized RhAAm/SnO2 nanocomposites. The synthesized monomer and polymer were characterized with Scanning electron microscopy, Energy dispersive X-ray analysis, Particle size analyzer, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infra-red and UV–vis spectroscopies for the surface morphological studies, elemental mapping, analysis of particle size, structural analysis, vibrations stretching present among the constituent elements and optical energy band gap respectively. The porous structures were observed along with the presence of the Rh and SnO2 metal nanoparticles in the monomer and polymer. The minimum particle sizes were found to be 74 and 50 nm for monomer and polymer respectively which were observed by the dynamic light scattering technique. BET surface area analysis presents that the synthesized materials are a combination of micro and mesoporous materials. However, the Debye-Scherrer formula confirms that the average crystallite size of the monomer and polymer nanocomposites are 60 and 17 nm respectively. FTIR analysis suggests the presence of acrylamide. The hygrometric detection properties were studied for both materials. Better sensitivity, good repeatability along with low response and recovery time for the synthesized monomer as compared with the polymer-based humidity sensor were found. © 2021 Elsevier B.V.
Crop Residue Management: A Novel Technique for Restoring Soil Health and Sustainable Intensification in India
(Springer Singapore, 2021) Anita Kumawat; Ram Swaroop Meena; I. Rashmi; Ashok Kumar; S.D. Bamboriya; Devideen Yadav; Kuldeep Kumar; Dinesh Kumar; Manoj Kumar Jhariya
India has achieved a record food grain production of ~300 million tonnes in 2019–2020. Simultaneous production of a large volume of crop residues (CRs) is natural. It is documented that ~700 million tonnes (Mt) of CRs are generated every year in India. But the proper disposal of CRs is of serious concern, especially in the irrigated and mechanized cropping systems of India. Hence, a huge quantity of CRs is burnt on-farm to clear the field for timely sowing of the next crop. The burning of CRs causes environmental pollution and loss of soil organic carbon (SOC) and nutrients, reduces microbial activities, and enhances soil erodibility. The continuous burning/removal of CRs leads to higher input costs in the short term and a decline in soil productivity in the long term. The burning of 1 ton of paddy straw release 1460 kg carbon dioxide (CO2), 60 kg carbon monoxide (CO), 3 kg particulate matter (PM), 200 kg ash, and 2 kg sulfur dioxide (SO2). Moreover, CR burning results in the loss of entire carbon (C), 80% of nitrogen (N), 25% of phosphorus (P), 20% potassium (K), and 50% sulfur (S). The inappropriate management of CRs will further lead to continuous depletion of soil fertility and deterioration of atmospheric quality. Hence, there is a need to develop efficient crop residue management (CRM) strategies to prevent the wastage of this valuable natural resource. The recycling of CRs offers a sustainable and ecologically sound option for restoring soil health and agricultural intensification. It can play an important role in C sequestration at 0.2 × l015 g year−1 to improve the soil organic carbon (SOC) pool. This book chapter explains all the efficient CRM practices with respect to eco-intensification. Retaining CRs as mulch on the soil surface, in situ incorporation, and producing compost and biochar are the most effective approaches to improve soil, air, and water quality. Hence, the aim of this chapter is to explore the feasibility of different CRM options for replenishing and sustaining soil health and environmental security. This chapter is focused on the possible alternatives for efficient recycling of surplus CRs to improve soil and environmental security and sustainable crop production in cereal-centric intensive cropping systems of India. It will help producers, researchers, academicians, and policymakers to achieve the “Sustainable Development Goals” in India. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021.
On the ichnofossil treptichnus pedum: Inferences from the nagaur sandstone, marwar supergroup, India
(Czech Geological Survey, 2018) Mukund Sharma; Shamim Ahmad; Santosh K. Pandey; Kuldeep Kumar
Sandstone-mudstone interfaces offer an excellent medium for the preservation of the burrows. This study discusses the morphology, ecological niche and correlation based of 291 Treptichnus pedum specimens of the lower Cambrian Nagaur Sandstone, western Rajasthan, India. Petrological attributes of the host sediment are also addressed. Statistical analyses of size (length, width and gap of each segment of T. pedum) were conducted to determine the inter-specific variation. Data suggest that the entire Nagaur assemblage was made by one major group of makers. Overall morphology suggests that these burrows were probably made for shelter and trapping small epibenthic or endobenthic organisms. An overview of the global occurrence of T. pedum shows broad environment tolerance. The Nagaur specimens are compared with various recorded occurrences of T. pedum to assess the nature of the plausible producer organism, itsbehaviour and taphonomical aspects. © 2018, Czech Geological Survey. All rights reserved.
Sole- or Dual-Crop Basis Residue Mulching and Zn Fertilization Lead to Improved Productivity, Rhizo-modulation and Soil Health in Zero-Tilled Pigeonpea–Wheat Cropping System
(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2022) Adarsh Kumar; K.S. Rana; Anil K. Choudhary; R.S. Bana; V.K. Sharma; Gaurendra Gupta; Sudhir K. Rajpoot; Ingudam Bhupenchandra; Mukesh Choudhary; Praveen Jakhar; Amit Kumar; Abhishek Kumar; Prabhat Kishore; Amaresh Pradhan; Vishal Tyagi; Kuldeep Kumar
Conventional tillage has led to deteriorated soil health in semi-arid ecologies of south Asia. Sole- and dual-crop basis residue mulching in a predominant pigeonpea-wheat cropping system (PWCS) of the region may boost crop productivity and soil health. Widespread Zn deficiency also invokes for developing sound Zn fertilization practices (ZFPs) for improved Zn bioavailability and crop productivity. We assessed the comparative performance of single- and double-crop basis residue mulching + hydrogel in main plots, and the ZFPs in sub-plots in split-plot design under a zero-tilled PWCS in semi-arid agro-ecology. Dual-crop basis residue mulching + hydrogel exhibited ~ 17.1–22.3% higher system productivity with improved rhizo-modulation and soil health over sole-crop residue mulching and no-residue mulchings in a zero-tilled PWCS. Dual-crop basis residue mulching (8 t ha−1 year−1) + hydrogel (2.5 kg ha−1) maintained significantly higher soil organic carbon (4.4 g kg−1); soil organic carbon stock (9.06 t ha−1); nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and micronutrients; and soil biological parameters compared to sole-crop residue mulching (4 t ha−1 year−1). Interestingly, soil physico-chemical and biological properties and carbon stock showed an improvement while enhancing residue covering from 4 to 8 t ha−1 year−1 compared to no residues. Among ZFPs, 5 kg Zn ha−1 + Zn solubilizer (Bacillus endophyticus) exhibited 7.4–13% higher system productivity and soil health. Correlation analysis exhibited significant positive correlation (p < 0.01) amongst system-productivity and soil-health parameters. Double-crop basis residue mulching + hydrogel along with 5 kg Zn ha−1 + Zn solubilizer improved the soil health with optimized root development and hence harnessed higher system productivity in PWCS. Likewise, pigeonpea residue mulching proved more beneficial than wheat residue mulching in succeeding crops in realizing higher system productivity and soil health, where otherwise livestock inevitably need crop residues as quality fodder in semi-arid agro-ecologies. © 2021, The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Sociedad Chilena de la Ciencia del Suelo.
Validation of carbon contents in different traits and components of herbaceous species from tropical grassland
(Ecological Society of India, 2020) Pratibha Chaturvedi; Preeti Verma; R. Sagar; Hariom Verma; Kuldeep Kumar
Because of global climate change events; the quantification of carbon (C) present in different species from diverse ecosystems are urgently needed. Study evaluated the performances of different methods used for the C estimation in different plant components and traits by comparing with harvest method. For this, 117 herbaceous species just-before flowering were harvested from the campus of Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. Across the components, the mean C contents (g plant-1) varied between 0.33 for roots of procumbent and 7.93 for shoots of native trait categories. On g m-2 basis, it ranged from 29 (roots) to 85 (shoots). Similarly across the components, the mean C: B ratio ranged between 0.41 (roots) and 0.44 (shoots). The linear relationship between C and B had high correlation coefficient, low standard error of estimate together with low discrepancy in extrapolation compared to the other models. Hence, compared to other models, the linear equation could be used in C estimation. Further among all the estimators; at the species, component and functional group levels, the mean C: B (0.43) ratio of the entire herbaceous species resulted as an accurate estimator of the C. Because of its simplicity and low discrepancy, the mean C: B (0.43) ratio seems to be reasonable to estimate the C content based on the known biomass. Stems of perennials, erects, leguminous and native plants had greater C than the others. Thus, the perennial, erect, leguminous and native herbaceous species could be an alternative for reducing the atmospheric C in the tropical grasslands. © 2020 Ecological Society of India. All rights reserved.
Variations in soil properties, species composition, diversity and biomass of herbaceous species due to ruminant dung residue in a seasonally dry tropical environment of India
(Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), 2015) Preeti Verma; R. Sagar; Nitu Giri; Ranjana Patel; Hariom Verma; D.K. Singh; Kuldeep Kumar
Ruminants directly or indirectly influence nutrient cycling and vegetation structure in grassland ecosystems. We assessed the impact of natural cattle dung deposition on soil attributes and the resulting effects on species composition, species diversity and biomass of herbaceous vegetation in a natural grassland in the seasonally dry tropical environ-ment of Banaras Hindu University, India. For this 72 plots of 1 × 1 m [12 locations × 2 treatments (dung residue and control) × 3 replicates] were selected in January 2013 and soil and vegetation samples collected. A total of 74 species belonging to 66 genera and 25 families were recorded. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) ordination revealed that the dung residue (DP) and control (CP) plots were distinctly different in terms of soil attributes and species composi-tion. The k-dominance plot showed greater species diversity in DPs than CPs, with higher soil nutrients and moisture and lower soil pH in DPs than CPs. Similarly, DPs showed more herbaceous species and greater biomass than CPs. This trend can be explained by the positive responses of forbs, erect plants, annuals, large-statured, non-native and non-leguminous species to dung residue, while increased biomass can be partly due to cattle preferentially not grazing areas adjacent to a dung pat. Overall, the study showed that deposition of dung during grazing by cattle stimulates growth of pasture species and increases species diversity. Therefore cattle dung could be used as a sustainable alterna-tive to chemical fertilizers to manage soil pH, species composition and diversity, and forage production in the season-ally dry tropical grasslands of India, which are nutrient- and moisture-limited. © 2015.
Variations of biomass and carbon contents in different traits and components of herbaceous species from tropical grassland
(African Science Publications, 2019) Preeti Verma; R. Sagar; Hariom Verma; Abhishek Rai; Pratibha Chaturvedi; Prem Pratap Singh; Kuldeep Kumar; Sandeep Kumar Singh
Grasslands play a critical role in the global storage of atmospheric carbon (C). Precise estimation of C contents in different plant components is essential to formulate a strategy for mitigating the atmospheric C. Biomass (B) and C of different herbaceous plant components at species, functional group and site levels from tropical grassland locating on the campus of Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India were estimated. For this; 117 herbaceous species just-before flowering were harvested. B and C contents for each species and component were measured and statistically analyzed. The measured C (g plant-1) across the components varied from 0.08 to 31.12. On gm–2 basis; it varied between 29 (leaf) and 49 (root). Plant components, species and functional groups in isolation caused significant differences in the measured C. In the present study; the C content of stem was greater than the leaf and root. The perennial, erect, leguminous and native traits had greater C than the others. Therefore, this observation revealed that the perennial, erect, leguminous and native plants could be a better option for reducing the atmospheric CO2 by capturing it and then converting into B through photosynthesis. Further, the fitted regression equation between the root and shoot for B and C could be used for the extrapolation of B and C of the root component based on the shoot component. The conservative field measurement methods may give precise data on B and C but are destructive to grassland, difficult, time-consuming, and costly to cover at large scale. Hence, the present work could be substantial for the estimation of root C based on shoot component. © 2019 African Journal of Biological Sciences. All rights reserved.