Current Science

Preet Pratima ¹, N. Sharma ¹, D. P. Sharma ¹

Affiliations
1 Dr Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan 173 230, IN

Abstract

The present article discusses the effect of different irrigation levels and in situ moisture conservation on canopy temperature and water relations, viz. leaf water potential, stomatal resistance, transpiration rate, leaf photosynthetic rate and chlorophyll content in kiwifruit cultivar Allison during the years 2011 and 2012 in Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India. The kiwifruit vines were subjected to seven treatments, viz. irrigation at 80% FC (field capacity); irrigation at 60% FC; irrigation at 40% FC; irrigation at 60% FC plus mulching with grass; irrigation at 60% FC plus black polythene mulching; irrigation at 40% FC plus mulching with grass and irrigation at 60% FC plus black polythene mulching applied from March to October with three replications in randomized block design. The deficit irrigation treatments resulted in increased canopy temperature and stomatal resistance and decrease the leaf water potential, transpiration rate, leaf photosynthetic rate and chlorophyll content in the leaves of kiwifruit cv. Allison, whereas the application of mulches (grass and black plastic) along with deficit irrigation levels resulted in mitigation of the effect of deficit irrigation. Application of black plastic mulch along with irrigation at 60% field capacity was observed to be the best treatment as its effect nearly similar to that of standard irrigation.

Keywords

Canopy Temperature, Irrigation, Kiwifruit, Moisture Conservation, Mulch.

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Lakhi Sharma ¹, S. De ¹, P. Kandpal ², M. P. Olaniya ², S. Yadav ², T. Bhardwaj ², P. Thorat ², S. Panja ¹, P. Arora ¹, N. Sharma ², A. Agarwal ¹, T. D. Senguttuvan ¹, V. N. Ojha ¹, D. K. Aswal ¹

Affiliations
1 Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR-NPL Campus, New Delhi 110 012, IN
2 CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL), Dr K. S. Krishnan Marg, New Delhi 110 012,, IN

Abstract

A strong demand of a separate time zone by northeast populace has been a matter of great debate for a very long period. However, no implementable solution to this genuine problem has yet been proposed. The CSIR-National Physical Laboratory, CSIR-NPL (the National Measurement Institute, NMI, o f India and custodian o f Indian Standard Time, IST) proposes an implementable solution that puts the country in two time zones: (i) IST-I (UTC + 5: 30 h, represented by longitude passing through 82 °33 E) covering the regions falling between longitude 68 °7 E and 89 °52 E and (ii) IST-II (UTC + 6: 30 h, represented by longitude passing through 97°30E) encompassing the regions between 89°52E and 97°25E. The proposed demarcation line between IST-I and IST-II, falling at longitude 89 °52 E, is derived from analyses o f synchronizing the circadian clocks to normal office hours (9: 00 a.m. to 5 : 30p.m.). This demarcation line passes through the border of West Bengal and Assam and has a narrow spatial extension, which makes it easier to implement from the railways point o f view. Once approved, the implementation would require establishment of a laboratory for ‘Primary Time Ensemble - I I ’ generating IST-II in any o f the north-eastern states, which would be equivalent to the existing ‘Primary Time Ensemble-I’ at CSIR-NPL, New Delhi.

Keywords

Circadian Clock, Energy Saving, Indian Standard Time, Longitude, Sun Graphs, Two Time Zone.

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