Analysis of Water Parameters Causing Top-Dying in Mangrove Forest Trees in the Sundarbans in Bangladesh
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 1, June 2014
Pages:
1-13
Received:
18 June 2014
Accepted:
30 June 2014
Published:
10 July 2014
Abstract: Sundarbans is the largest, biologically richest, and most extensive mangrove forest in the world and representing 2.5 percent of the world’s natural mangrove forest (Saha, 1991), the Sundarban natural mangrove forest is still the largest natural single tract of mangrove forest and habitats in the world (Christensen, 1984; Seidensticker and Hai, 1983; Hussain and Karim, 1994) with 10, 029 km2 area. The total area of the part of Sundarban in Bangladesh is now about 6,017 km2 (Imam, 1982; Christensen, 1984; Chaffey et al., 1985), which arose due to the eastward shift of the Ganges (Blasco, 1977; Naskar 1999; and Bakshi, 1954; Thom, 1982). Heritiera fomes (Sundri) is the predominant tree species, supporting about 65% of the total merchantable timber (Chaffey et al., 1985, and Siddiqi, 2001). A unknown and serious-killer disease (top dying) of H. fomes in Sundarbans is affecting millions of the trees. An inventory by Chaffey et al., (1985) revealed that there were about 45.2 million top dying trees in the Sundarbans of which 20 million had more than 50% of their crown affected by top dying. The loss of H. fomes will have a major impact on the Sundarbans mangrove ecosystem, which leads to economic losses. Despite various hypotheses as to the causes of this top-dying, the underlying causes are still not well understood. The present work has explored some of the possible factors involved, focussing particularly on the relationship between the amount of top-dying in different places and the concentrations of a number of chemical elements present in the water, in order to test the hypothesis that chemical pollution might be responsible. Other factors such as the pH, salinity and nutrient status were also assessed. Nine plots were selected for sampling of water, and vegetation in order to categorise different areas in terms of their intensity of top-dying. 63 soil samples and 9 water samples were tested, mainly by ICPMS, to investigate certain parameters of the soil and water, such as Sn, Exchangeable K, Soil pH, Pb, Zn, Ni, soil pH, CEC, soil nutrients, soil moisture content, and elemental concentrations of 32 other elements. Most of the elements studied had no significant correlation with the top dying of Heritiera fomes. However, the present results have showed that some possible parameters in water in Sundarbans such as Salinity of water, water pH, Water EC, water nutrients could not be directly linked with top-dying of Heritiera fomes (Sundri) in Sundarbans.
Abstract: Sundarbans is the largest, biologically richest, and most extensive mangrove forest in the world and representing 2.5 percent of the world’s natural mangrove forest (Saha, 1991), the Sundarban natural mangrove forest is still the largest natural single tract of mangrove forest and habitats in the world (Christensen, 1984; Seidensticker and Hai, 198...
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World and Indian Agriculture: Revolutions & Multi Speed Strategies for Future
M. B. Dastagiri,
MNV Prasad Gajula,
Ganeshagouda I. Patil
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 1, June 2014
Pages:
14-26
Received:
24 June 2014
Accepted:
7 July 2014
Published:
20 July 2014
Abstract: The act of Malthusian theory of population and his prediction ‘population tended to outstrip the food supply’ did not happen in most parts of the globe and in India due to revolutions in agriculture. This research paper attempts to analyze and demonstrate various agricultural revolutions that occurred in India and across the globe. On this account the history of Indian agriculture has been glorious attributable mainly to green revolution and subsequent revolutions like white, blue, yellow, brown, feather and red revolutions. Similarly, the world super agriculture attributes Neolithic, Arab, Scottish, British and Green revolutions. This study emphasizes that scientists and policymakers can take significant steps towards achieving sustainable food security for the entire world’s populations by adopting the strengths of the various Agricultural Revolutions while seeking to avoid its weaknesses. The production and productivity of Indian all crops were increased at increasing rate in post green revolution period witnessing operation of Law of increasing production.
Abstract: The act of Malthusian theory of population and his prediction ‘population tended to outstrip the food supply’ did not happen in most parts of the globe and in India due to revolutions in agriculture. This research paper attempts to analyze and demonstrate various agricultural revolutions that occurred in India and across the globe. On this account ...
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