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Using desi-cow waste products like Jeevamrit under natural farming is widespread among farmers for improving soil biology and productivity. Jeevamrit enhances soil chemical and microbiological properties without needing a large quantity of farmyard manure (FYM) as a sustainable farming practice with a reduced carbon footprint. Despite its traditional use, Jeevamrit faces criticism due to a lack of scientific evidence. This study investigated the comparative effect of Jeevamrit and chemical fertilizers on the growth and yield of marigold cv. Siracole. The experiment employed a randomized block design (RBD) with three replications. The mother block of marigolds was raised for both the summer and winter seasons. From this mother block, three harvesting flushes were taken and propagated from cuttings. The rooted cuttings were planted at monthly intervals and evaluated for flowering parameters and compared to those treated with RDF (30:20:20 N, P, and K g/m2). Soil supplied with Jeevamrit showed enhanced bacteria (26.33%), fungi (18.92%), and actinomycetes (31.21%) populations compared to the recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) (i.e., N–P–K @ 30:20:20 g m−2). Jeevamrit-treated plants have a more marketable flower yield per square meter (3.98%) and a longer shelf life (9.93%) compared to RDF. The study concludes that Jeevamrit @ 2 liters m−2 is a sustainable and effective alternative to traditional fertilizers for enhancing marigold production in the mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh, where natural farming is already accepted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyses the trends of changing climatic elements in the hydrological regime of the Indian Himalayan Region with specific focus on Agro‐ecological zone II & III of Himachal Pradesh for the period of 1901−2021. The upper, middle, and lower catchment areas of Sutlej River Basin were studied to reveal regional trends in climatic parameters. The Mann‐Kendall test and Sen Slope analysis were used to estimate annual and seasonal trends and their magnitude. The results showed a significant decreasing trend in the lower catchment area, with a break point year estimated to be 1953 for the entire basin. Two blocks of analysis, 1901−1953 and 1954−2021, showed significant variations. Annual rainfall data revealed a statistically significant decreasing trend at different stations. The lower catchment area received a significant increase in rainfall compared to higher altitude stations. In terms of seasonal variation, the pre‐monsoon season showed a significant decrease, while the entire basin recorded a significant increase in average monthly temperature. The study concludes by generating future time series predictions using an ANN model for the period of 2022−2050. Overall, the study's findings indicate a significant change in climatic variables with signs of increasing monthly temperatures and decreasing annual rainfall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest fires have significant impacts on economies, cultures, and ecologies worldwide. Developing predictive models for forest fire probability is crucial for preventing and managing these fires. Such models contribute to reducing losses and the frequency of forest fires by informing prevention efforts effectively. The objective of this study was to assess and map the forest fire susceptibility (FFS) in the Indian Western Himalayas (IWH) region by employing a GIS-based fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (Fuzzy-AHP) technique, and to evaluate the FFS based on forest type and at district level in the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Seventeen potential indicators were chosen for the vulnerability assessment of the IWH region to forest fires. These indicators encompassed physiographic factors, meteorological factors, and anthropogenic factors that significantly affect the susceptibility to fire in the region. The significant factors in FFS mapping included FCR, temperature, and distance to settlement. An FFS zone map of the IWH region was generated and classified into five categories of very low, low, medium, high, and very high FFS. The analysis of FFS based on the forest type revealed that tropical moist deciduous forests have a significant vulnerability to forest fire, with 86.85% of its total area having very high FFS. At the district level, FFS was found to be high in sixteen districts and very high in seventeen districts, constituting 25.7% and 22.6% of the area of the IWH region. Particularly, Lahul and Spiti had 63.9% of their total area designated as having very low FSS, making it the district least vulnerable to forest fires, while Udham Singh Nagar had a high vulnerability with approximately 86% of its area classified as having very high FFS. ROC-AUC analysis, which provided an appreciable accuracy of 79.9%, was used to assess the validity of the FFS map produced in the present study. Incorporating the FFS map into sustainable development planning will assist in devising a holistic strategy that harmonizes environmental conservation, community safety, and economic advancement. This approach can empower decision makers and relevant stakeholders to take more proactive and informed actions, promoting resilience and enhancing long-term well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Saussurea costus, an important critically endangered medicinal herb native to the Himalayan region, is commonly used in various ailments, viz. asthma, ulcer, inflammation, and stomach problems. In the international market, the dry roots and essential oil of S. costus has become an important drug. The lack of appropriate fertilizer dose recommendations is one of the limiting factors for its ex-situ conservation and large-scale cultivation, as plant nutrition is vital in determining crop growth and productivity. The study aimed to understand the comparative impact of different levels of fertilizer nutrients on growth, dry root and essential oil yield, and essential oil profile of S. costus. Methods: A field experiment was conducted in Himachal Pradesh, India's cold desert region (Lahaul valley), during 2020-21. The experiment comprised three levels of nitrogen (60, 90, and 120 kg ha-1), three levels of phosphorus (20, 40, 60 kg ha-1), and two levels of potassium (20 and 40 kg ha-1) in a factorial randomized block design. Results: The fertilizer application had an immense effect on growth attributes, root yield attributes, dry root yield, and essential oil yield over control. The treatment combination N120, P60, and K40 had the largest effect on the plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf length and width, root length and diameter, dry matter per plant, dry root yield, and essential oil yield. However, the results were at par with the treatment comprising N90, P40, and K20. Dry root yield increased by 108.9%, and essential oil yield increased by 210.3% with fertilizer applications over unfertilized plots. The regression curve shows an increasing trend in dry root yield till N90, P40, and K20; after that, it nearly stabilized. The heat map showed that applying fertilizer significantly affected the chemical constituents of S. costus essential oil. Similarly, the plots fertilized with the highest level of NPK recorded the utmost value of available N, P, and K, as compared to unfertilized plots. Discussion: The results emphasize that for sustainable cultivation of S. costus, the application of N90, P40, and K20 combinations is the most suitable one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fifty four genotypes including four checks were grown in a RBD with three replications during Rabi 2010-11 at Vegetable Experimental Research Farm, Nauni, Solan HP to estimate the parameters of variability and association of important characters with yield in garden pea. Analysis of variance showed significant differences among the genotypes for all the morphological characters under study. The genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation were high for total soluble solids, total sugars, pod yield per hectare and total phenols. High heritability estimates coupled with high to moderate genetic gain observed for pod yield (kg/plot), node at which the first flower appear (number), number of pods per plant and total Phenols (g/100g). Pod yield was positively correlated with number of pods per plant, pod length (cm), number of seeds per pod and shelling percentage thereby indicating that the selection based on these traits could be effective for improvement of green shelled peas yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

German chamomile is a highly valuable medicinal and aromatic herb lacking superior and stable varieties for varied environments in the western Himalayas. The study was conducted to estimate genotypic effects and their interaction with the environment under various conditions of Himachal Pradesh to identify superior and stable genotypes. For that, nine selections were evaluated at four different locations in randomized block design with three replications during 2020 and 2021. The combined analysis of variance showed significant genotypic effects for all the traits, while environmental and Genotype ×Environment interactions were significant for plant height, capitulum diameter, capitulum disc diameter, and fresh capitulum yield. The highest mean performance for most traits revealed that environment-2 has favourable conditions for German chamomile cultivation, and MC19005 was the best performer over all the locations. The stability parameters of the Eberhart and Russell model further confirmed that MC19005 is stable and superior for both fresh capitulum yield and essential oil content, again confirmed by Genotype and genotype by environment biplot analysis. Genotype and genotype by environment biplot analysis revealed that all the tested environments were formed a single mega-environment. The capitulum yield and essential oil content have a significant positive correlation and could be improved simultaneously in a single breeding program. Further, capitulum disc diameter and capitulum diameter would be the effective component traits for capitulum yield and essential oil content. The present study's results provide a strong base for identifying superior genotypes and selection strategy for future breeding programs in German chamomile. [Display omitted] • Environment-2 has favourable conditions for German chamomile cultivation. • MC19005 was the highest and stable performer over all the locations. • All the tested environments were formed a single mega-environment. • The capitulum yield and essential oil content has significant positive correlation. • Capitulum diameter and disc diameter were the contributing component traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]