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The paper analyzed genetic parameters of 144 progenies of selected clones of Populus deltoides Bartr. ex. Marsh growing at the farm of WIMCO Seedligs Ltd., Bagwala, Rudapur (Uttarakhand), India, on the basis of growth traits viz. diameter at breast height (DBH) and height and wood traits namely fiber dimensions, vessel dimensions, proportion of tissues of secondry xylem, specific gravity. Progenies showed significant variations for all growth and wood traits. Broadsense heritability for wood traits ranged from 0.84 (fibril angle)—0.04 [vessel (%)] while for growth traits it was 0.88 (DBH) and 0.02 (height). Fiber length, fiber diameter, wall thickness, fiber (%), fibril angle and specific gravity were important wood traits showed 0.60, 0.72, 0.29, 0.40, 0.84 and 0.68 broadsense heritability respectively. The genetic advance was higher for vessel length (81.49) followed by fiber length (74.72), vessel diameter (10.16), fibril angle (9.81) and fiber (6.07 %). Genetic gain was higher for parenchyma (51.70 %) followed by fibril angle (31.42), fiber (17.70 %), ray (15.89 %), vessel length (15.44), wall thickness (13.65), specific gravity (11.84) and fiber length (6.48) for the wood traits. Genetic advance was 6.71 and 0.58 respectively for DBH and height for growth traits while genetic gain for DBH and height was 28.16 and 2.23. Cluster analysis indicated that 139 progenies were clustered in three clusters showing narrow genetic base of the species. However, the progenies B-13, seedling-S and 86-1 were divergent and also showed better wood and growth traits adjudged the best progenies for further development of new clones and hybrids. Moreover, 32 progenies were also showed better wood and growth traits and may also be used in tree improvement programs of the species. The hybridization among the progenies selected from diverse clusters could produce greater heterosis needed for higher growth and suitable for products.

Heartwood (HW) and tension-wood (TW) significantly varied with the trees of different diameters and along the heights. Heartwood and tension-wood formation was positively affected by growth. Heartwood formation in proportion to sapwood (SW) was low during the early phase of the tree growth thereafter stabilized after DBH of 20 cm. The fiber dimensions also stabilized after the same period of growth. SW/HW (heart-wood/sap-wood) and NW/TW (normal wood/tension wood) ratio showed decline trend with growth parameters. Tension-wood formation in proportion to normal-wood (NW) also stabilized as in case of heartwood after certain period of growth. SW/HW ratio showed negative relationship with fiber length. NW/TW also showed the similar type of relationship. However, specific gravity increased after certain period of growth then declined. Significant variations due to direction in wood anatomical properties and specific gravity indicated the influence of tension wood on the wood properties.

We selected 28 populations of Leucaena leucocephala from different geographical locations in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Orissa of India on the basis of height and girth at breast height (GBH). We evaluated fiber length, optical density, wall thickness, vessel element length, vessel element diameter, specific gravity and lignin of these populations of L. leucocephala in different sites. Populations had significant variations for all growth, wood and paper parameters. Girth at breast height (GBH) and specific gravity were the most important parameters for heritability and genetic gain, respectively. The minimum heritability was reported for vessel element length and genetic gain for fiber length. The populations were grouped into six clusters, cluster II had maximum number of populations (14) and clusters IV and VI had one population each. GBH contributed maximum of 34.39 % towards total divergence followed by specific gravity (14.02%). An economic technique to produce quality seed by establishing seed orchards with genetically divergent parents was suggested. The hybridization among the populations selected from diverse clusters could produce greater heterosis needed for higher growth and suitable wood and paper manufacturing parameters.

We studied radial and inter-progeny variations in the dimensions of the wood elements and specific gravity of 21 half sib progenies of Populus deltoides Bartr. ex Marsh. The female parents of half sib progenies were G48 and S7C13 clones. Variance ratio (F) test indicated that inter-progeny variations in the dimensions of wood elements and specific gravity were significant for all wood traits while variations were significant for radial location for specific gravity only. Hierarchical cluster analysis was done by Squared Euclidean Distance for all of 21 progenies considering six wood traits. 21 progenies were grouped into 4 clusters. Cluster 1 was the largest cluster with 11 progenies, whereas cluster 3 had only one progeny. Selected progenies in clusters 3 (progeny 155, male) and 4 (progeny 108, 196, both female) were highly divergent from the other progenies so they were used in combinations as parents of hybrids to develop new clones with desired characters. Progeny 155 showed higher growth, fiber dimensions, and specific gravity, thus, should be used for the development of new clones.

The wood analysis for different parameters was carried out in a clonal seed orchard of Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. established during 1997 at Hoshiarpur, Punjab, India. Twelve clones with higher index value were subjected to Euclidean Cluster Analysis based on wood and growth parameters to group into seven clusters. Cluster I and II contained four and three clones, respectively, and remaining clusters had just one clone each. Clone originated from Barielly, Uttar Pradesh of cluster VII was found to be the most divergent clone. Cluster II with three clones maintained greater inter-cluster distance with other clusters. The divergence analysis has confirmed that the clones planted in the clonal seed orchard are sufficiently divergent and seed harvested from the orchard would maintain high diversity.

The performance and variability patterns in the wood element’s dimensions, specific gravity and growth parameters namely ramet height and GBH were evaluated in 16 clones of parents, F1 and F2 hybrids of Populus deltoides Bartr. ex Marsh. Ramet radial variations were non-significant, while inter-clonal variations due to interaction of clone/replication were significant for all the wood traits except vessel element length. Inter-clonal variations were significant only for fiber length and fiber wall thickness. Fiber length and specific gravity were significantly higher in female, while wall thickness and vessel element length were higher in male clones. Female parents (G48 and S7C8) showed higher fiber length and specific gravity than of the male parent (G3), while vessel diameter and wall thickness were higher in male parent (G3). There is not much difference in fiber length and vessel element’s dimensions among the parents, F1 and F2 generation hybrid clones. Specific gravity did not showed any trend for parents, F1 and F2 generations. Generally female clones showed higher growth rate. Broad sense heritability for wood traits ranged from 0.143 (fiber length) to 0.505 (fiber wall thickness), while for growth traits it was 0.374 (GBH) and 0.418 (height). Genetic gain for all the wood and growth traits was positive for most of the wood traits. The highly divergent male clone (78) and female clones (S7C8, G48, W/A 49) in number of combinations could be used for developing new hybrids of desired wood traits to develop new clones.

The present paper deals with within ramet radial, intra- and inter-clonal variations in the wood element’s dimensions and specific gravity of 10 clones of Populus deltoides Bartr. ex Marsh. The growth parameters namely ramet height and DBH were also considered for the study. Study material was collected from the 10 clones of Populus deltoids raised by WIMCO Plantations Ltd. at Rudrapur (Udhamsingh Nagar), India. Three clones were parent viz. G48, S7C8 (female) and G3 (male). Other clones represent hybrids of F1 generation. Inter- and intra-clonal variations were significant for all the wood traits except vessel element length for intra-clonal variations. Within ramet variations due to radial location were significant for fiber length and specific gravity with increasing trend from pith to periphery. Interaction of clone*replication was also significant for all the wood traits. Variations were significant for the DBH for the clones. Fiber length and specific gravity was significantly higher in female while wall thickness and vessel element length was in male clones (P < 0.01). Female parents (G48 and S7C8) showed higher fiber length and specific gravity than of the male parent (G3) while vessel element diameter and wall thickness was higher in male parent (G3). Fiber length was higher in offspring than the parent clones which may be the reflection of hybrid vigor for the trait. The clones of F1 offspring followed the similar patterns for the other wood traits as in the parent clones. Hierarchical cluster analysis showed that W/A 39 (male) and W 39 (female) clones of F1 generation were highly divergent than of the other clones.

Inter-clonal, intra-clonal and within tree variations in specific gravity and wood anatomical properties of 8-year-old grown ramets of Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. have been investigated. Radial and location-wise intra-clonal variations were non-significant for anatomical properties and specific gravity for all six clones at all three sites. However, inter-clonal variations in wood anatomical properties and specific gravity were significantly different. Inter-clonal variations in anatomical properties and specific gravity were also significant due to sites, which indicated that site-characteristics overshadowed the genetic priority of different clones for wood anatomical properties. Average fiber-characteristics of all clones showed the best performance at Lalkuan, Haldwani (site III), while average specific gravity performed well at Brandis Road, Dehradun (site I) followed by site III (Lalkuan, Haldwani) and site II (Lachchiwala, Dehradun). Within tree variations in anatomical properties like fiber length, fiber diameter, wall thickness, vessel member length and vessel member diameter due to vertical or radial direction and location (pith to periphery) are non-significant. Radial direction, location and height showed no impact on wood element variation. It indicated that there is no impact of juvenile wood, sapwood and heartwood ratio, and reaction wood on wood anatomical properties of 8-year-old ramet of D. sissoo. It further indicated that clone raised ramet of 8-year-old D. sissoo showed the characteristics of mature wood. Within tree variations in specific gravity were significant due to height, which may be related to differential sapwood and heartwood ratio in the vertical direction. Different wood elements viz. fiber length, fiber diameter, wall thickness, vessel member length and vessel member diameter showed significant correlations with each other and with specific gravity.

Since the simplification of puff modelling for mini computer used by Ludwig et al. in 1977, various models have been developed. Still, almost all of them are based on empirical parameters. With the progress in atmospheric boundary layer theory, new avenues can be explored for analytical modelling of dispersion problems. This paper describes an analytical puff model (UNIPUFF) based on parameterization schemes of boundary layer theory.

This paper deals with the lift force on a stationary sphere close to and away from the boundary and supplements an earlier paper which dealt with the study of the drag force. The experimental setup, instrumentation, nature of boundaries, sizes of test sphere, ranges of Reynolds number and relative size of the sphere are all common to both the studies. In this study, the time-averaged lift coefficient, like the drag coefficient, is found to be a function of both the Reynolds number and the relative size. In view of the prevailing controversy concerning the direction of lift force, a criterion has been evolved for the reversal of lift force in terms of Reynolds number and relative size.

A tunnel‐type sediment excluder is commonly used at the headwork of a canal for preventing excess sediment from entering the off‐taking canal. In such excluders, the sediment‐laden water, which flows mainly near the bed, is made to flow through the tunnels provided at the canal bed. It may be then discharged back into the river downstream through the undersluice bays. Comparatively sediment‐free water in the top layers is allowed to enter the canal. Presently, the only hydraulic principle utilized in its design is that energy loss is kept to a minimum and a minimum velocity of flow is ensured through the tunnel for the nondeposition of the coarse material. In the present paper, established concepts of sediment transport are used to outline a procedure for the design of a tunnel‐type sediment exluder when the river bed material is nonuniform in nature. The procedure suggested herein is illustrated with examples using the field data and the results obtained are compared with the available observations from ...

A multi-disciplinary research programme on the Ganga River Ecosystem was launched by the Government of India in 1983 to collect information on its attributes. Monitoring of the initial 509 km unpolluted and unmonitored region of the river falling in partly mountainous and partly upper plain stretches for two years revealed good water quality. The Song River (a tributary) catchment, a victim of extensive mining activity in the past, was found to add maximum mineral load. The Bhagirathi River was found to carry maximum suspended solid load. Organic pollution was low throughout, occasionally showing seasonal and local peaks. The river exhibited a high oxidative state with pH falling in a slightly alkaline range and nutrient levels being very low.Diatoms formed a major part of the encountered genera of phytoplankton. Zooplankton were mainly represented by protozoans. Saprophytic bacteria underwent large spatial and temporal fluctuations. Coliforms exhibited an increasing trend with downstream river distance. The source of pollution could not be specifically characterized from an FC/FS ratio. Only one sample tested positive for enteric virus. The forms of benthic macroinvertebrates indicated a clean stream environment. It was observed that diversity indices, together with evenness and community comparison, could provide a promising approach to determine the state of the community.Eight heavy metals investigated, Cu, Zn, Fe, Cd, Mn, Pb, Ni and Co, were found to be present in the river water and bed sediments. The prominent mode of metal transport was found to be via the suspended load. The concentration of dissolved metals was found within WHO permissible limits. The heavy metal status of the Ganga River was compared with other rivers of the world. Sorptive properties of sediments were found to be similar to the general sorptive behaviour of the clays. Laboratory studies exhibited reasonable short t 90 values for coliform survival in Ganga water. Faecal streptococcus survived longer.

Horizontal filtration with counter-current principle has got distinct advantages over conventional rapid sand filters (RSF), in terms of longer duration of filter run and better utilization of the entire media depth and overcomes most of the shortcomings of RSF, such as mud ball formation, development of negative pressure inside the filter media at relatively shallow operating depths of water over the filter media, etc. Even direct filtration may be feasible without secondary sedimentation. The present study was carried out in the laboratory on various models of horizontal filters with counter-current flow under varying discharge conditions with constant head, using sand and gravel as filter media and bentonite clay suspension in water as turbidity. In the coarsest media, incremental head losses were found to increase with time whereas in the finest media, it was found to be reversed. In the intermediate layers, incremental head losses increased at the initial filter run but decreased later on. The increase in specific deposit resulted in incremental head loss whereas decrease in permeability caused a decrease in approach velocity and hence decrease in incremental head loss. Coarsest media layer attracts maximum deposit and leads to more head loss increase as compared to other layers. Exponential decrease in effluent discharge in three distinct stages was observed during the filter run. Such a variation is modelled. Specific deposit is maximum in coarsest media but decreases sharply along the depth of media. Such a variation is also modelled. The depth of the media is increased in order to maintain throughout quality requirements. A model is presented to relate depth of media with duration for a discharge of more than 100 litres per minute per metre square (1 min−1 m−2). It was observed that due to small magnitudes of specific deposit in the sand and gravel media, the exponential constants y and z in the Ives' model of efficiency are not important. The exponential constant x is however found to play a significant role. Methodology of evaluation of the exponential constant x in Ives' model is presented. This constant x is shown to remain around 1.7.