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A checklist of all indigenous and naturalized trees of Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh State, India wasmade. There are as many as 510 taxa (73 families, 252 genera) in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh State which hereenumerated under family names alphabetically. The nomenclature of the taxa is updated. The popular name, tradename, tree height, vegetation type, and district-wise distribution to each taxon are provided in tabular form. Country oforigin / nativity was provided for exotic species. Of the total 510 indigenous/naturalised species, 40% are distributed ina wide variety of vegetation types.

In the Kagyu Nalanda Monastery in Bylakuppe, Karnataka, India, during 2010-2011 has established the multispecies forestry plots in the degraded land of the monastery and nurtured them. In one of these plots (2.5 ha in size) aboveground biomass, carbon stock and the potential of carbon dioxide sequestration in the aboveground biomass were assessed. In the study plot, 927 trees belonging to 45 species were recorded. The Gini Index obtained for different species indicated that within a species the inequality is low for tree height when compared to that for tree basal area. The estimated total basal area and total tree volume in the study plot is 33.34 m2 and 315.73 m3 respectively. The total aboveground biomass for the plot was 326.39 tonnes with the total carbon stock of 163.18 tonnes. A positive correlation was observed between the carbon stock and total tree volume of the top five species (Cassia fistula, Swietenia macrophylla, Mangifera indica, Moringa oleifera and Spathodea campanulata), which contributed predominantly (54%) of the total carbon stock (r=0.812, p<0.05). The study plot sequestrated 598.13 tonnes of carbon dioxide with mean annual rate of 59.81 tonnes. The potential annual economic value of carbon dioxide sequestrated in the aboveground biomass of tree community in the study area ranges from US$ 239.3 to 2,990.7 (Indian Rupees 17,872 to 2,23,402). The scope for selling the carbon credits generated in this multi-species forestry plot to buyers to support further environmental priorities are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simulation models and precision agriculture practices may require more detail and certainty about soil spatial variability than provided by soil surveys. This study described soil and weed spatial variability in 50-ha subareas of two sites included in the Mississippi Delta Management Systems Evaluation Areas project. Objectives were (i) to describe the spatial variability of soil properties and (ii) to determine relationships between spatially variable weed populations and soil properties. Surface soil samples were collected at nodes of 60-m square grids prior to planting cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) in 1996. Field-moist soil was analyzed for microbial activity. Air-dried soil was used to determine soil organic C, pH, and texture. Fluometuron and either clomazone, metolachlor, or norflurazon were banded over the crop row at planting. Weed counts were taken 6 wk after herbicide application. The spatial variability of soil properties and weed populations was described using geostatistics. Soil microbiological activity exhibited limited spatial dependence, but pH, organic C, and texture semi-variograms were well-described with spherical models. Although short-range ([is less than] 60 m) variability was often high, the range of spatial dependence typically exceeded 120 m. Total weeds were spatially dependent both years; however, weeds susceptible to control by herbicide were not. Weed densities were significantly greater (P [is less than] 0.05) in areas that had higher organic C and finer texture. Areas of !ow organic C and coarse soil often had no weeds. Thus, more uniform weed control might be achieved by varying preemergence herbicide application rate. Acceptable weed control might be achieved with lower herbicide application rates in certain areas.

A total of 326 pearl millet accessions selected for fodder traits from the world collection at ICRISAT genebank, India were evaluated in rainy, postrainy and summer seasons to identify promising sources for fodder yield. In rainy season, majority of accessions grew significantly tall, produced thick stems, long and broad leaves compared with postrainy and summer seasons. Total tillers per plant were significantly more in rainy and summer seasons than in postrainy season. Significant (P = 0.05) positive correlations were observed among all traits in all seasons except total tillers, which showed significant negative correlation with all other traits but for a few cases. Accessions of cluster 1 flowered early and produced more tillers per plant, while those of cluster 3 flowered late, grew tall, produced thick stems, more leaves per plant, which were long and broad. Promising sources identified include IP 11839 and IP 11840 for plant height and number of leaves per plant, IP 15710, IP 15735 and IP 15752 for stem thickness and leaf width, and IP 3628, IP 15285, IP 15288, IP 15302, IP 15342, IP 15351, IP 15290, IP 20347 and IP 20350 for total tillers per plant. Further testing of these sources of fodder traits at different locations will be very useful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genebank at ICRISAT, India that serves as a world repository for sorghum germplasm conserves 39,234 accessions from 93 countries, including 6249 from seven South Asian countries: Afghanistan (6), Bangladesh (9), India (6101), the Maldives (10), Nepal (8), Pakistan (90) and Sri Lanka (25). A total of 5340 georeferenced accessions were used to identify gaps, and 5322 accessions that were characterized at ICRISAT were used to assess the diversity in the collection. Accessions of basic races varied widely than those of intermediate races for flowering in the postrainy season, plant height in both rainy and postrainy seasons, panicle exsertion, panicle length and width, seed size and 100 seed weight. Landraces from India were late flowering, tall and produced stout panicles and larger seeds. Landraces from Pakistan flowered early in both seasons and produced stout panicles and those from Sri Lanka were late flowering and tall in both seasons, produced more basal tillers and stout panicles. A total of 110 districts in 20 provinces of India, 13 districts in three provinces of Pakistan, three districts in Bangladesh and five districts in four provinces of Sri Lanka were identified as geographical gaps. Sorghum bicolor subsp. verticilliflorum, S. halepense and S. propinquum were identified as taxonomic gaps in the collection. Therefore, it is suggested to explore the districts identified as gaps to enrich the variability in the world collection of sorghum at ICRISAT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world collection of pearl millet at ICRISAT genebank includes 19,696 landraces. Passport and characterization data of 2,929 accessions belonging to 89 named landraces originating in 15 countries of Africa was used to study the adoption pattern and genetic potential. Out of 89 named landraces under study, 71 were grown in one country, 11 in two countries, six in three countries and one in four countries. Latitude and prevailing climate at collection sites were found as the important determinants of cultivation pattern of landraces. A hierarchical cluster analysis using 12 agronomic traits resulted in five clusters. Cluster 1 for late flowering, short height in rainy season, high tillering and thin panicles; cluster 2 for early flowering; cluster 3 for stout panicles in both the seasons and larger seeds and cluster 5 for longer panicles in both seasons, were found as promising sources. IP 8957, IP 8958, IP 8964 of Iniadi landrace for short height, downy mildew and rust resistance and high seed iron and zinc contents; IP 17521 of Gnali (106.9 ppm) and IP 11523 of Idiyouwe (106.5 ppm) for high seed iron content; IP 17518 of Gnali (79.1 ppm) and IP 11535 of Iniadi (78.4 ppm) for high seed zinc content were the important sources. All accessions of Raa for high seed protein content (>15%) and those of Enele for drought tolerance, were found to be promising sources. Further evaluation of promising sources identified in this study is needed for enhanced utilization of germplasm in pearl millet improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mid-South United States (US) cotton producers are now rotating cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) with other crops such as corn (Zea mays L.) or soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], in response to economic conditions, rather than growing cotton continuously as was the tradition. This research investigated cotton growth and development, lint yield, and fiber quality when cotton was grown following soybean compared to following cotton. Cotton and soybean were grown in six rotational sequences (CCCC, SSSS, CSCS, CSSC, SCSC, and SCCS) during 2012-2015 at Stoneville, MS. These rotations were imposed in production systems utilizing either transgenic or conventional cultivars, with or without glyphosate in the herbicide regime. Dry matter partitioning, leaf chlorophyll (Chl) concentration, lint yield, and fiber quality data were collected. Years when cotton was grown following soybean, produced cotton plants that were on average 13% taller, intercepted on average 6% more sunlight, and contained 13% greater leaf Chl concentrations compared to plants in continuous cotton. Cotton grown following soybean produced increased yields one of the two years. Fiber quality was not impacted by the different rotation sequences. Cotton grown in a conventional production system was competitive with that grown in a transgenic production system. The yield increase observed when growing cotton in rotation with soybean is possibly due to increased soil N via Nfixation from the prior soybean crop and/or due to altered soil microbial populations favorable to the subsequent cotton crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]