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Abha Rani Chauhan

Bio: Abha Rani Chauhan is an academic researcher from Arid Forest Research Institute. The author has contributed to research in topics: Tecomella undulata & Biomass. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 1 citations.

Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the effect of water and treated wastewater on the growth and biomass of tree crops in urban afforestation to enhance bio-product and reduce degradation in environmental quality.
Abstract: Treated wastewater can partly meet the requirements of water for irrigating tree crops in dry areas to better utilize, produce biomass and reduce land degradation. Seedlings of Acacia nilotica, Azadirachta indica, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Prosopis cineraria, P. juliflora, Tamarix aphylla, Salvadora persica, S. oleoides and Tecomella undulata were planted and irrigated with bore-well (BW) and treated wastewater (WW) at ½ET (Evaporation-transpiration) and ¾ET. Plants irrigated at BW1/2 attained less height and collar diameter, and showed low growth increments and dry biomass. These variables increased by 1.2-2.0-fold at WW3/4 irrigation. Plants produced 1.4-fold higher biomass with WW over BW, whereas it was 1.5-fold higher at ¾ET over ½ET. Responses of species to BW/WW irrigation differed in biomass allocation to roots and other parts as a mechanism to uptake water and nutrients. Conclusively, A. nilotica, A. indica, P. juliflora and T. aphylla had stronger preference to increased irrigation level, whereas E. camaldulensis, S. persica, S. oleoides and T. undulata had preferred nutrients added through treated wastewater. A. nilotica, E. camaldulensis, P. juliflora and A. indica were best species in growth and biomass production and wastewater utilization. These can be replicated in urban afforestation to enhance bio-product and reduce degradation in environmental quality.

5 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Results revealed that plants accumulated more primary and secondary metabolites in young tissue to tackle pathogens, herbivores, attract pollinators, and in mature tissues to develop strong physiology, and established the groundwork for using MAPs as phytoremediators.

7 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper , a review indicates the potential of agroforestry in enhancing carbon sequestration and reduced soil loss and runoff by 94% and 78%, respectively, in Northeast India.
Abstract: Land degradation is one of the most important factors responsible for the alarming situation of food security, human health, and socioeconomic development in the country. Currently, 120.7 M ha of land in the country is affected by land degradation, out of which 85.7 M ha of land is affected by soil erosion caused by water and wind. Moreover, physical, chemical, and biological degradation are the major forms of land degradation in the country. Deforestation or tree cover loss (2.07 M ha) from 2001 to 2021, intensive rainfall (>7.5 mm ha−1), uncontrolled grazing (5.65 M ha), indiscriminate use of fertilizers (32 MT year−1), and shifting cultivation (7.6 M ha) are other major factors that further aggravate the process of land degradation. In order to alleviate the problem of land degradation, numerous agroforestry technologies have been developed after years of research in different agroclimatic zones of the country. The major agroforestry systems observed in the country are agri-horticulture, silvipasture, and agri-silviculture. This review indicates the potential of agroforestry in enhancing carbon sequestration (1.80 Mg C ha−1 year−1 in the Western Himalayan region to 3.50 Mg C ha−1 year−1 in the island regions) and reduced soil loss and runoff by 94% and 78%, respectively, in Northeast India. This can be concluded that the adoption of the agroforestry system is imperative for the rehabilitation of degraded lands and also found to have enough potential to address the issues of food, environmental, and livelihood security. This review’s findings will benefit researchers, land managers, and decision-makers in understanding the role of agroforestry in combating land degradation to enhance ecosystem service in India and planning suitable policies for eradicating the problem effectively.

1 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors tested the growth, biomass, nutrition, and heavy-metal accumulation of poplars [Populus nigra L. “62/154,” P. alba L “20/45, P. euramericana (Dode) Guinier “92/40”], and willow (Salix excelsa S.G. Gmel) in a pot experiment at four and eight months after planting when grown in soils irrigated with tap water (SITW) and wastewater (SIWW).
Abstract: Abstract Iran is located in a dry climate zone, and climate change has substantially reduced its precipitation and water resources. Reusing wastewaters from urban communities can meet some requirements for irrigation and fertilization of tree plantations in arid environments, leading to sustainable wastewater recycling, enhanced biomass production, and reduced land degradation. The objective of this study was to test the growth, biomass, nutrition, and heavy-metal accumulation of poplars [Populus nigra L. “62/154,” P. alba L. “20/45,” P. euramericana (Dode) Guinier “92/40”], and willow (Salix excelsa S.G. Gmel) in a pot experiment at four and eight months after planting when grown in soils irrigated with tap water (SITW) and wastewater (SIWW). After four months, SIWW treatment had no significant effect on growth, biomass, nor absorption of macronutrients. After eight months, SIWW treatment of poplars and willow significantly (p = 0.000) increased: (1) height, (2) leaf area, (3) root, stem, leaf, and total biomass, and (5) phytoextraction and phytoaccumulation of macro-/micro-nutrients and heavy metals in tree tissues, over trees receiving the SITW treatment. There were significant differences in growth, biomass, and accumulation of micronutrients and heavy metals in poplar versus willow tissues, with the highest biomass production and tissue-specific content of heavy metals in P. nigra trees, and the greatest total concentrations of heavy metals in P. alba and S. excelsa trees. In contrast, uptake of Fe, Cu, Ni, Cr and Pb were similar between poplar and willow, and phytoaccumulation of these elements was primarily in the roots. Leaf concentrations were highest for Zn and Mn. While P. nigra outperformed all other species overall, tolerance index (TI; defined as the tolerance to the heavy metals as calculated by the ratio of the biomass of SIWW trees relative to SITW trees) values exceeding 100% for all one-year-old poplar and willow trees demonstrated that they can be considered for planting in soil affected by urban wastewaters with similar contaminant profiles as in the current study. NOVELTY AND SIGNIFICANCE OF RESEARCH Since the species would differ in their growth, biomass, and phytoremediation responses to the nutrient and heavy metal concentrations of the wastewater over time, this research is important for the development of silvicultural prescriptions of these fast-growing trees that support effective wastewater reuse strategies throughout heterogeneous landscapes and across variable human community resources and needs.

1 citations

Book ChapterDOI
01 Jan 2023
TL;DR: In this article , a business model for using and recycling wastewater for afforestation programs along with the production of pulpwood, fuelwood, and timber-wood is proposed. But, several constraints and challenges exist in the use of saline and poor-quality water for plantation programs and these must be addressed for obtaining the greater ecological and environmental benefits of investments.
Abstract: Saline and poor-quality water irrigation-induced land degradation constitutes a major threat to the agricultural productivity. Agroforestry systems prove more beneficial than conventional arable agriculture systems in areas where saline and other categories of poor-quality water are the only source of irrigation. Poor-quality water use in forestry and agroforestry plantations can provide large number of ecosystems services, such as carbon sequestration, lowering surface temperature, regulate fresh water flows, control erosion, and maintain soil fertility. Available evidences suggest that tree species such as Acacia nilotica, Eucalyptus tereticornis, and Prosopis juliflora are found highly effective in terms of growth and biomass production under saline irrigation. Various tree species and crops can be grown in different agroforestry systems, such as agri-silviculture system, silvopastoral system, agri-horti system, multipurpose woodlots, and saline aquaforestry. Biodrainage and phytoremediation techniques could be highly effective in recycling and reusing the saline and poor-quality water and reducing soil contamination due to salts and other pollutants. Even a business model can be developed to use and recycle wastewater for afforestation programs along with the production of pulpwood, fuelwood, and timber-wood. However, several constraints and challenges exist in the use of saline and poor-quality water for plantation programs and these must be addressed for obtaining the greater ecological and environmental benefits of investments. Overall, agroforestry and tree plantations seem to be ecologically and economically viable options to judiciously use saline and the poor-quality water for enhancing land productivity and protecting the soil and water resources.