Volume 44 (1) 2026
First Report of Lichens from Burachapori Wildlife Sanctuary with New Records for Assam and India
Dilip Tamang, Mandira Sarma, Sanjeeva Nayaka, DK Upreti, Vishal Kumar, Rakesh Singh Adhikari
Environment and Ecology 44 (1) : 1—9, January—March 2026
Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.60151/envec/GHVD6348
How to cite this paper:
Tamang, D., Sarma, M., Nayaka, S., Upreti, D., Kumar, V., & Adhikari, R. S. (2026). First Report of Lichens from Burachapori Wildlife Sanctuary with New Records for Assam and India. Environment and Ecology, 44(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.60151/envec/GHVD6348
Although lichens significantly contribute to biodiversity and are crucial bioindicators of ecosystem health, their broad diversity is still inadequately studied in several regions. To provide fundamental data for ecological monitoring and planning for conservation, this study assessed lichen diversity, composition, and distribution across the study area. This work was performed in Burachapori Wildlife Sanctuary under the Nagaon Wildlife Division of Assam to document the lichen diversity for the first time. Systematic sampling was used in field surveys at specific locations, and lichen specimens were identified using morphological, anatomical, and chemical characteristics. The study revealed the occurrence of 61 lichen species belonging to 28 genera and 18 families, with crustose types of growth forms being the most dominant, followed by foliose, fruticose and squamulose. Among them, Gyalecta effervescens and Pyrenula expectata are new to India, whereas Herpothallon minutum, Diorygma albocinerascens, Anisomeridium glaucescens, Bactrospora myriadea, Parmotrema stuppeum, Pyxine asiatica, Ramalina capensis, and Ramalina nervulosa are new records to the state of Assam. Microclimatic factors, habitat disturbance, and substrate type were all closely associated with variations in species composition.The findings emphasise the ecological importance of less disturbed habitats in supporting diverse lichen populations and highlight how environmental conditions affect lichen variety. This study illustrates the importance of lichens as indicators for biodiversity assessment and environmental change and contributes to regional lichen surveys with new additions.
Bio indicators, Lichen diversity, Biodiversity assessment, New additions.
ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY – Interdisciplinary International Science Journal by MKK Publication is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International 
Sequestration of Carbon to Acquire Carbon Credit and Minimization of Potent Greenhouse Gases
Kousik Samanta, Madhurima Banik, Aminul Islam
Environment and Ecology 44 (1) : 10—24, January—March 2026
Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.60151/envec/IOTI5134
How to cite this paper:
Samanta, K., Banik, M., & Islam, A. (2026). Sequestration of Carbon to Acquire Carbon Credit and Minimization of Potent Greenhouse Gases. Environment and Ecology, 44(1), 10–24. https://doi.org/10.60151/envec/IOTI5134
The escalating global population, coupled with increased urbanization and industrialization, is placing immense strain on natural resources and exacerbating climate change through greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Primary sources of these emissions include the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and intensive agricultural practices, all of which release significant quantities of carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O). Soil organic carbon (SOC), representing the largest terrestrial carbon reservoir, is crucial in climate change mitigation as it sequesters atmospheric carbon. This study aims to assess the capacity of soil carbon sequestration and carbon credit mechanisms to reduce GHG emissions, enhance soil health, and foster sustainable agriculture. Practices like conservation tillage, crop rotation, cover cropping, direct-seeded rice cultivation, alternate wetting and drying, organic amendments, agroforestry, and biochar application are proven to boost SOC levels, improve soil fertility, and increase water retention. Beyond restoring degraded soils, carbon sequestration also benefits biodiversity and farm productivity. Carbon credits offer a complementary market-based incentive for emission reductions, enabling farmers and industries to offset their GHG outputs. Notably, smallholder farmers can supplement their income by adopting practices eligible for carbon credits and engaging in carbon markets. Nevertheless, challenges persist, including the natural limit of soil carbon saturation, the risk of emission reversal due to land-use changes, difficulties in monitoring, and the potential for carbon credits to be misused for “greenwashing.” Despite these obstacles, combining carbon sequestration with carbon credit systems presents a scalable approach to reducing atmospheric CO₂, promoting agricultural sustainability, and fulfilling international climate obligations like the Paris Agreement, thereby positioning agriculture as a vital contributor to global climate solutions.
Carbon credit, Carbon sequestration, Carbon trading, Conservative agriculture, GHG’s.
ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY – Interdisciplinary International Science Journal by MKK Publication is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
A Comprehensive Analysis of Trend and Decomposition of Wheat in India
Gyan Prakash, Manish Kumar, Bhim Singh, Alok Shrivastava, Babu Lal
Environment and Ecology 44 (1) 25—33, January—March 2026
Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.60151/envec/FQVH3291
How to cite this paper:
Prakash, G., Kumar, M., Singh, B., Shrivastava, A., & Lal, B. (2026). A Comprehensive Analysis of Trend and Decomposition of Wheat in India. Environment and Ecology, 44(1), 25–33. https://doi.org/10.60151/envec/FQVH3291
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is an annual crop in the Gramineae or Poaceae family. It plays an important role in Indian agriculture because it significantly contributes to food security and the national economy. This paper deals with a comprehensive assessment for parametric trend modeling and decomposition analysis of wheat in India. The secondary data on wheat covering a period of thirty years from 1994 to 2023 was utilized for the analysis. To explore trends in production, area and yield of wheat, several parametric trend models were applied to the data. These models include linear, quadratic, cubic, exponential and logarithmic. To assess the performance and predictive ability of each model, statistical metrics were computed, including the coefficient of determination (R^2), relative mean absolute percentage error (RMAPE) and root mean square error (RMSE). The cubic model was found to be the best fitted model for the production, area and yield of wheat in India. Hence, on using the cubic model, the projections of production, area and yield of wheat were made for five successive years (viz., 2024 to 2028). The empirical results of decomposition analysis revealed that the yield effect attributed significantly towards the output growth in wheat production (i.e., 54.08%), followed by the area effect (i.e., 33.02%). However, the least contribution was due to interaction effect (i.e., 12.90%). The finding of the study could be used for reliable forecasting and effective agricultural policy on wheat crop. The results also support data driven decision making to improve wheat production and ensure long-term sustainability in the agricultural sector.
Trend models, Parameters, Coefficient of determination, Root mean square error, Relative mean absolute percentage error, Decomposition analysis.
ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY – Interdisciplinary International Science Journal by MKK Publication is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
Growth and Physiochemical Performance of Red Cherry Tomato in Soil and Soilless Cultivation Systems
Suman, Prity Mehta, Saloni Sharma, Charu Singh, Sanjay Yadav
Environment and Ecology 44 (1) : 34—44, January—March 2026
Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.60151/envec/TUKW9949
How to cite this paper:
Suman, Mehta, P., Sharma, S., Singh, C., & Yadav, S. (2026). Growth and Physiochemical Performance of Red Cherry Tomato in Soil and Soilless Cultivation Systems. Environment and Ecology, 44(1), 34–44. https://doi.org/10.60151/envec/TUKW9949
In modern protected cultivation several approaches are being used such as hydroponics, vertical farming, aeroponics and aquaponics. It is very important to evaluate the high-value crops under these methods to maximize their productivity and to minimize the risk of crop failure because of environmental factors under open-field conditions. In this study, seeds of Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme (Red Cherry tomato) were sown in pro-trays for raising the seedlings. One-month-old saplings were then transplanted into two soilless systems developed in the polyhouse of the Department of Botany, Dayalbagh Educational Institute situated in District Agra of Uttar Pradesh, India namely, NFT hydroponic and vertical hydroponic, both supplied with Hoagland nutrient solution in triplicates. A control experiment was conducted under open-field conditions using recommended agronomic practices in a Randomized Block Design. Growth, biochemical, and yield parameters were recorded and compared across systems. Results of the study revealed that plants grown under both hydroponic systems showed superior performance compared to the control. Average plant height reached 179.46 cm in NFT and 165.86 cm in vertical systems. Fruit yield parameters also improved, with mean fruit weights of 33.70 g in NFT and 31.07 g in vertical systems. Fruit dimensions were greater in hydroponic systems, measuring 3.23 × 2.66 cm in NFT and 2.56 × 1.99 cm in vertical farming. Maximum fruit production was observed in NFT (4800.81 g/plant), followed by vertical (3767.13 g/plant) and control (1967.57 g/plant). The highest SPAD (85.58) and NDVI (0.86) values were recorded in NFT at flowering. Photosynthetic rate (14.36 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹) and stomatal conductance (0.118 mol m⁻² s⁻¹) were also highest in NFT. Soil-grown fruits had higher ascorbic acid (29.86 mg/100 g) but lower sugar content (6°Brix) compared to soilless systems (9.36 °Brix in NFT and 9.06 °Brix in vertical). Lycopene content peaked in NFT fruits at 90 and 105 days (294.24 and 305.70 mg/g, respectively). Overall, NFT hydroponics proved to be the most effective system for enhancing growth, physiochemical parameters and yield of cherry tomato compared to vertical hydroponics and open-field cultivation. These findings highlight the potential of NFT hydroponics as a superior system for enhancing plant growth and fruit quality compared to conventional cultivation.
Cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme), Growth, Yield, Physiochemical, Hydroponics, Nutrient Film Technique (NFT), Vertical farming, Soilless cultivation, Yield.
ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY – Interdisciplinary International Science Journal by MKK Publication is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
Sobhini Nandy, Rituraj Dutta, Bijay Kali Mahapatra
Environment and Ecology 44 (1) 45—49, January—March 2026
Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.60151/envec/HIBA6727
How to cite this paper:
Nandy, S., Dutta, R., & Mahapatra, B. K. (2026). Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis of the Feeding Ecology of Harpadon nehereus (Hamilton 1822) from the North-East Coast of India. Environment and Ecology, 44(1), 45–49. https://doi.org/10.60151/envec/HIBA6727
The feeding habit of 217 Bombay ducks was analysed by their gut contents and species were identified and observed in different frequencies for a year (2024-25). The species that were identified are Coilia dussumieri (CD), Johnius dussumieri (JD), Otolithes cuvieri (OC), Setipinna sp. (HA), Leptracanthus savala (RF), Stolephorus sp.(SC), Harpadon nehereus (HN), Non-Penaeid sp. (PS), X (unidentified). The frequency of gut contents was arranged in decreasing order, such as – PS > CD > HA > HN > OC > X > (SC, JD, RF) based on the frequency table of the gut content. The percentage Index of Relative Importance (IRI) was also provided, where PS (78.51178%) is the dominant prey, followed by CD (7.255529%), HN (7.092837%), HA (3.262283%) and OC (2.679047%). JD (0.487117%), X (0.296222%), RF (0.284903%), and SC (0.130269%) – occasional prey. The Degree of fullness (DF) and Stomach Fullness Index (SFI) predicted a low feeding intensity. Shannon-Wiener index (H’= 1.4854) and Pielou’s evenness index (J’= 2.197225) were calculated and indicating that the feeding habit is moderately generalized with moderate diversity and evenness of prey. The type of species obtained from the gut is also provided.
Gut content, Harpadon nehereus, Index of relative importance, Shannon-wiener index, Pielou’s evenness index.
ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY – Interdisciplinary International Science Journal by MKK Publication is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
Extraction of Agar from Gracilaria opuntia Collected from Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu, India
Smrithy P. S., Sajani Jose
Environment and Ecology 44 (1) : 50—56, January—March 2026
Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.60151/envec/QNPB8564
How to cite this paper:
Smrithy, P. S., & Jose, S. (2026). Extraction of Agar from Gracilaria opuntia Collected from Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu, India. Environment and Ecology, 44(1), 50–56. https://doi.org/10.60151/envec/QNPB8564
The extraction of natural agar from Gracilaria opuntia, a red algal species, offers a sustainable and efficient alternative for biopolymer production. This study aimed to optimize agar extraction parameters and evaluate yield and quality for potential industrial applications. The process involved sequential pre-treatment, alkaline (5%) and acid (1–1.5%) treatments, followed by hot water extraction (70–100 °C, 1 h), filtration and gelation. The comprehensive evaluation of extraction parameters revealed that agar yield is highly sensitive to thermal, chemical and temporal factors, with extraction time (t = –198.00, p < 0.001) identified as the most critical determinant. Optimal yield (95–100%) was achieved under conditions combining 1–2 h soaking at 30–60°C, moderate alkali and acid concentrations, and controlled thermal extraction, which enhanced agarose solubilization without degradation. Cluster analysis stratified treatments into three performance groups, clearly distinguishing the high-yield regime (Cluster 3) from suboptimal protocols. The extracted agar exhibited physico-chemical quality comparable to commercial standards, confirming G. opuntia as a viable raw material for sustainable agar production. These findings establish a statistically validated framework for process optimization and highlight G. opuntia’s potential in developing eco-sustainable biopolymers for applications in food, biomedical, and packaging industries.
Gracilaria opuntia, Agar, Bioplastic film, Extraction and Treatment.
ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY – Interdisciplinary International Science Journal by MKK Publication is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
Nitin Kant Prabhakar, Sumit Kumar, Bhaskar, Manali Kaintura, Sanjeeva Nayaka, Jagat Prakash Mehta, Mamta Arya
Environment and Ecology 44 (1) 57—60, January—March 2026
Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.60151/envec/ZOQY1211
How to cite this paper:
Prabhakar, N. K., Kumar, S., Bhaskar, Kaintura, M., Nayaka, S., Mehta, J. P., & Arya, M. (2026). First Record of Umbilicaria cylindrica (Umbilicariaceae) from Nandi Kund, Uttarakhand, Western Himalaya, India. Environment and Ecology, 44(1), 57–60. https://doi.org/10.60151/envec/ZOQY1211
This paper reports Umbilicaria cylindrica (Umbilicariaceae) as a new distributional record for Uttarakhand, India. The species was collected from Nandi Kund, a high-altitude sacred lake in the Madhyamaheshwar Valley, located within Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, at an altitude of 4800 m a.s.l. The discovery extends the known Indian distribution of U. cylindrica, previously reported from Sikkim and West Bengal, highlighting the high potential for documenting unrecorded lichen taxa in high-altitude Himalayan ecosystems.
Umbilicaria cylindrica, Ascomycota, Lichenized fungi, Nandi kund, Uttarakhand.
ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY – Interdisciplinary International Science Journal by MKK Publication is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
Effect of Age of Seedlings on Growth and Yield of Rabi Tomato cv. Arka Rakshak
Kumari Vibha Rani, Sushma Kumari, Umesh Narayan Umesh, Seema Kumari, Jyoti Sinha
Environment and Ecology 44 (1) : 61—66, January—March 2026
Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.60151/envec/DFDU2576
How to cite this paper:
Rani, K. V., Kumari, S., Umesh, U. N., Kumari, S., & Sinha, J. (2026). Effect of Age of Seedlings on Growth and Yield of Rabi Tomato cv. Arka Rakshak. Environment and Ecology, 44(1), 61–66. https://doi.org/10.60151/envec/DFDU2576
The quality of seedlings in tomato cultivation plays an important role in good growth and higher yield. The farmers generally using over aged seedlings without root treatment, which leads to a reduction in yield and productivity. For raising healthy seedlings, the nursery beds should be well prepared along with soil treatment, seed treatment, light irrigation and all intercultural operations will be done in well manner. In this trial we had done transplanting of twenty days old seedlings without root treatment and thirty-day-old seedlings with treatment of 2% rhizobacteria solution. The best result was obtained in the findings of transplanting of 30 days old seedlings with root treatment rhizobacteria. The maximum plant height 62.68 cm, the highest number of primary and secondary branches 7:43 and 9.65 per plant, and the highest yield 309.27 Q/ha were recorded in the transplanting of 30 days old seedlings along with root dip in Rhizobacteria solution as compared to other treatments. The maximum gross return 247426 Rs/ha net return 184742.28 Rs/ha with the highest BC ratio 3.95 was recorded in the case of this treatment in one year and gross return 249879 Rs/ha, net return 186031 Rs/ ha and BC ratio 3.91 during other year of trail as compared to other treatments. The healthy crop of tomato depends on healthy seedlings and soil environment. The seedlings’ treatment with rhizobacteria solution improves the microbial communities around the rootzone. In this trial the best suitable age of seedlings was 30 days with root treatment with rhizobacteria solution for getting a healthy crop with good and higher yield in Agro climatic and Soil conditions of Nalanda district in Bihar.
Tomato, Seedlings, Rhizobacteria solution, Growth, Yield.
ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY – Interdisciplinary International Science Journal by MKK Publication is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
Short-term water logging on growth and yield of chilli
P. Behera, R. K. Panda, P. Tripathy, R. K. Nayak
Environment and Ecology 44 (1) 67—72, January—March 2026
Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.60151/envec/GSPW3807
How to cite this paper:
Behera, P., Panda, R. K., Tripathy, P., & Nayak, R. K. (2026). Short-term water logging on growth and yield of chilli. Environment and Ecology, 44(1), 67–72. https://doi.org/10.60151/envec/GSPW3807
Waterlogging causes significant damage to chilli crops and is a persistent problem in Odisha. So a net house study was conducted at College of Agriculture, Bhubaneswar, Odisha in rabi 2022-23 to examine the response of chilli genotypes to waterlogging stress. In the first phase, eight chilli varieties were tested under varying durations (2, 4, 6, and 8 hours) of waterlogging. Among them, two local genotypes, Barkote and Daringbadi, showed remarkable tolerance, in way of more adventitious roots, lower incidence of leaf yellowing and wilting. Based on these initial observations, a second experiment was conducted using these two tolerant local chilli and the plants were exposed to same waterlogging period. A noticeable decline in the growth and a sudden wilting disorder was recorded to rise in waterlogging period. Both the genotypes produced fewer leaves and exhibited a significant reduction in leaf area under waterlogged conditions compared to their control plants. Short-term waterlogging triggered an oxidative burst, which corresponded with increased activities of proteins, carbohydrates, and proline, indicating a stress-induced metabolic response. However, prolonged exposure had a detrimental effect on yield attributes. Although both Barkote and Daringbadi showed decreased yield under stress condition, Daringbadi suffered a comparatively greater reduction of 19.8% than Barkote.
Capsicum annum , Waterlogging, Proline, SPAD, Wilt.
ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY – Interdisciplinary International Science Journal by MKK Publication is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
Sweta Kashyap, Arunesh Kumar Verma, Ravikant, Vijay Kumar Maurya, Sutanu Maji
Environment and Ecology 44 (1) : 73—78, January—March 2026
Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.60151/envec/WQHC1989
How to cite this paper:
Kashyap, S., Verma, A. K., Ravikant, Maurya, V. K., & Maji, S. (2026). Influence of Different Levels of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium (NPK) on Vegetative Growth of Dragon Fruit (Hylocereus Costaricensis). Environment and Ecology, 44(1), 73–78. https://doi.org/10.60151/envec/WQHC1989
The present investigation was carried out during 2024 at the Department of Horticulture, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, to evaluate the influence of different levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) on the vegetative growth of dragon fruit (Hylocereus costaricensis) under subtropical climatic conditions. The experiment was conducted in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 8 treatments viz. T1 (N-850, P-950, K-475), T2 (N-800, P-900, K-450), T3 (N-750, P-825, K-425), T4 (N-700, P-800, K-400), T5 (N-650, P-750, K-375), T6 (N-600, P-700, K-350), T7 (N-550, P-650, K-325) and T8 (Control) and 3 replications during the year 2024, focusing on the application of varying doses of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium via Urea, Single Super Phosphate, and Muriate of Potash, ensuring uniform plant health and spacing throughout. Observations on morphological and physiological parameters such as plant length, stem circumference, number of spines per areole, number of segments per plant, and chlorophyll content were recorded at regular intervals up to 225 days after treatment. Results revealed significant differences among treatments, with T2 (N-800, P-900, K-450 g/pole/year) exhibiting maximum improvement in plant length (70 cm), stem circumference (1.62 cm), number of segments per plant (2.33), and highest chlorophyll content (0.76 mg/g). The superior response under T2 treatment is attributed to balanced nutrient availability that enhanced photosynthetic efficiency and vegetative growth. The findings suggest that applying NPK at 800:900:450 g/pole/year in six split doses (April, May, June, August, September and November) through soil application optimally supports growth and physiological performance of dragon fruit under the subtropical conditions of Lucknow. This study emphasizes the importance of region-specific nutrient management to improve productivity and sustainability of dragon fruit cultivation in North India.
Nutrient management, Fertilizer scheduling, Dragon fruit, Growth.
ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY – Interdisciplinary International Science Journal by MKK Publication is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
Vanshi Lal Verma, Vijay Kumar Maurya, Arunesh Kumar Verma, Ravikant, Sutanu Maji
Environment and Ecology 44 (1) 79—88, January—March 2026
Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.60151/envec/ZXEC2415
How to cite this paper:
Verma, V. L., Maurya, V. K., Verma, A. K., Ravikant, & Maji, S. (2026). Studies on Influence of CPPU, Humic Acid and Paclobutrazol on Growth and Fruit Quality of Dragon Fruit Hylocereus costaricensis (Web.) Britton and Rose. Environment and Ecology, 44(1), 79–88. https://doi.org/10.60151/envec/ZXEC2415
The current study was conducted during the period of 2024-2025 at the dragon fruit plantation of the Department of Horticulture, School of Agricultural Science and Technology (SAST), Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU), Lucknow, UP, India (26°55’ N latitude and 80°54’ E longitude, standing 123 meters MSL) in the subtropical climate having average temperatures dip to 2°C during winter, while summer highs often soar to 45°C along with 700 mm of annual rainfall where soil is sandy loam and slightly alkaline in nature with pH 8.1. The experiment was conducted in randomized block design (RBD) with 8 treatments and 3 replications to study the influence of CPPU, Humic acid and Paclobutrazol on growth and fruit quality of dragon fruit. CPPU was applied as foliar spray and Humic acid & Paclobutrazol was applied as soil drenching. The results showed that CPPU @ 200 ppm +Humic acid @10% had significant positive impact on vegetative growth parameters (plant length, segment length, arch height) followed by improved thickness and circumference by the combined application of CPPU @200 ppm + Humic Acid @10% + Paclobutrazol @1.5 g a.i./m2. Similarly, combined application of CPPU @200 ppm + Humic Acid @10% + Paclobutrazol @1.5 g a.i./m2 improved physical and chemical quality parameters of dragon fruits. Thus, combined application of CPPU @200 ppm + Humic Acid @10% + Paclobutrazol @1.5 g a.i./m2 two times during April and May on dragon fruit crop grown under subtropical climate of Lucknow may be suggested for better growth and improved fruit quality.
Dragon fruit, CPPU, Humic acid, Paclobutrazol, Vegetative growth, Fruit quality.
ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY – Interdisciplinary International Science Journal by MKK Publication is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
Potsangbam Lulloo Chanu, Elangbam Jadu Singh, Amrabati Thokchom, Chingangbam Sadananda Singh
Environment and Ecology 44 (1) : 89—96, January—March 2026
Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.60151/envec/LMKL5178
How to cite this paper:
Chanu, P. L., Singh, E. J., Thokchom, A., & Singh, C. S. (2026). Assessment of Carbon Sequestration of Natural Mixed Forest and Plantation Forests of Pine of Langol Hill, Imphal-West District, Manipur, India. Environment and Ecology, 44(1), 89–96. https://doi.org/10.60151/envec/LMKL5178
This research studies the carbon sequestration in two forest types: Mixed natural forests (Site I) and Pinus kesiya plantations (Site II). Tree diameter at breast height (DBH) and heights were measured across various quadrats, and carbon storage was estimated using allometric equations for different diameter classes. Site I had higher tree density (1240 plants ha–1) but lower biomass (7179.51 kg ha–1) and carbon content (3589.75 kg ha–1) than Site II, which had 980 plants ha–1, 36951.25 kg ha–1 biomass, and 18475.61 kg ha–1 carbon content. And the total carbon sequestered by all the trees in Site I and Site II were found to be 13.16 Tons Ha–¹ Yr–¹ and 67.74 Tons Ha–¹ Yr–¹ respectively. Results indicate that despite Site I’s density, its younger, smaller trees store less carbon than the older, larger trees in Site II. This highlights the critical role of forest age and species composition in carbon sequestration assessments, with implications for forest management and climate mitigation strategies.
Natural mixed forests, Pinus kesiya plantation forests, Diameter at breast height (DBH), Allometric equation, Carbon sequestration.
ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY – Interdisciplinary International Science Journal by MKK Publication is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
Epidemiological Study of Chilli Anthracnose
Bharathi B, Hijam Meronbala Devi, Sathiyaseelan K
Environment and Ecology 44 (1) : 97—103, January—March 2026
Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.60151/envec/XLOT9513
How to cite this paper:
Bharathi, B., Devi, H. M., & Sathiyaseelan, K. (2026). Epidemiological Study of Chilli Anthracnose. Environment and Ecology, 44(1), 97–103. https://doi.org/10.60151/envec/XLOT9513
The present research investigation, Epidemiological Study of Chilli Anthracnose, the experiment was conducted in Randomized Block Design (RBD) to know the influence of weather parameters on disease development in the field located at Namakkal district of Tamil Nadu. For the prediction of disease occurrence, the percent disease index (PDI) was correlated with six meteorological parameters statistically. The Correlation matrix showed that the disease severity was positively and significantly correlated with Wind Speed (0.814). Factors like RH max (-0.871) and RH min (– 0.850) were negatively and significantly correlated. T min (–0.48) and DP (–0.381) were also negatively correlated, though they were not significant. T max (0.257) was found to be positively correlated but non-significant.
Chilli, Anthracnose, Meteorological parameters, Disease severity.
ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY – Interdisciplinary International Science Journal by MKK Publication is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
Annusa B. Marak, Yumnam Somi Singh
Environment and Ecology 44 (1) 104—109, January—March 2026
Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.60151/envec/UXVG8008
How to cite this paper:
Marak, A. B., & Singh, Y. S. (2026). Exploration and Selection of Elite Wild Aonla (Phyllanthus emblica L.) Genotypes in the Mountainous Tracts of West Garo Hills, Meghalaya. Environment and Ecology, 44(1), 104–109. https://doi.org/10.60151/envec/UXVG8008
An experiment was conducted at Department of Horticulture, North-Eastern Hill University. Tura Campus to study the characterization local aonla genotypes using various physiochemical parameter for evaluating diversity and identifying potentially useful genotypes for future breeding programs and quality enhancement. In all the 40 genotypes collected, the maximum fruit length was observed in the genotype WGHA 21 (23.62mm) and maximum fruit diameter was observed in the genotype WGHA 16 (25.94mm). The heaviest fruit weight was recorded in the genotypes WGHA 16 (9.66g) while the fruit volume was reported highest in genotype WGHA 40 (3.40ml) and minimum was reported in genotype WGHA 2 (0.59ml). As per the recorded data pulp weight was recorded the maximum in the genotype WGHA 16 (8.34g). The genotype WGHA 33 (9.78mm) was found to have the thickest pulp. Significantly maximum pulp percent was observed in the genotype WGHA 39 (93.87%) and minimum was observed in the genotype WGHA 30 (69.65%). In case of stone weight, the heaviest was observed in the genotype WGHA 40 (1.47g). The qualitative character TSS reported in the genotypes WGHA 18 (20.27 °Brix) was found to be the highest. The acidity recorded the lowest was in the genotype WGHA 29 (0.51%) and the highest was observed in the genotype WGHA 39 (3.67%). Ascorbic acid content reported in the genotype WGHA 39 (841.48mg/100g) was the highest among all other genotypes while significantly highest amount of total sugar was observed in the genotype WGHA 9 (1.29%). Moreover, reducing sugar reported in genotype WGHA 4 (1.20%) was the highest and the lowest observed was in the genotype WGHA 28 (0.46%). In case of non-reducing sugar highest was observed in the genotype WGHA 9 (0.54%). Based on the study conducted the genotypes WGHA 4, 8, 9, 16, 18, 21,23, 26, 28, 31, 32, 33,35,38, 39 and 40 gave promising results in terms of physical and bio-chemical attributes and can be studied for further evaluation.
Characterization, Phyllanthus emblica, Physico-chemical, Promising, Performance.
ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY – Interdisciplinary International Science Journal by MKK Publication is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
Gaurav Mali, Saurav Mali, Subrata Sinha, Manash Pratim Bhuyan
Environment and Ecology 44 (1) 110—118, January—March 2026
Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.60151/envec/ENGJ3312
How to cite this paper:
Mali, G., Mali, S., Sinha, S., & Bhuyan, M. P. (2026). A Machine Learning Approach for Potato Disease Detection with Application of Image Processing (HSV Processing and OTSU Segmentation). Environment and Ecology, 44(1), 110–118. https://doi.org/10.60151/envec/ENGJ3312
Potatoes are among the most widely cultivated and consumed staple crops worldwide; however, they are highly susceptible to diseases such as early blight and late blight, which significantly compromise crop yield and quality. Traditional disease detection methods, which often rely on manual inspection, are labour-intensive, time-consuming, and prone to human error. In response to these limitations, the present study proposes a machine learning-based framework for the ac-curate classification of potato leaf diseases, using Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) architecture. The approach implements image processing techniques, in which RGB color space is converted to the HSV color space. To enhance the localization of infected regions, Otsu’s thresholding method is employed, allow-ing for effective separation of diseased areas from the background. The model is developed on a dataset consisting of 3000 images divided into 3 classes: healthy, early blight, and late blight. With a batch size of 32, The model was trained for 50 epochs, achieving an accuracy of 97.12% on the original dataset, which further improved to 98.56% when trained on the segmented dataset. And finally, using different assessment metrics, the classification performance of the model was evaluated.
Potato disease, Convolutional neural network, OTSU Segmenta-tion, Machine learning, Image processing.
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