Browsing by Subject "Biomass"
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Item Ecological Study of Rupa Lake, Pokhara Valley, Kaski, Nepal(Department of Botany, 2008) Kunwar, DevendraThe present study was carried out in subtropical Rupa lake, wetland of Pokharavalley, from an ecological and management perspectives.Vegetationanalysis wasdone by quadrat method. Altogether 43 species of aquatic macrophytesrepresenting 26 family and 40 genera were recorded. By growth form, theemergents and the rooted floating leafed species recorded highest and lowestnumber of species respectively.Nelumbo nucifera,Trapa quadrispinosa,Trapabispinosa and Leersia hexandra recorded highest IVI value throughout theexperimental period. Physico-chemical parameters like: water temperature, DO,pH, total nitrogen andPO -Pwere analyzed.The water temperature varied from21.29°C to 23.39°C throughout the experimental period.Parameters like pHandDO recorded higher value in post monsoon period, while temperature, totalnitrogen andPO 4 4 -Precorded higher value in pre monsoon period.On the basis ofPO 4 -P, the lake can be categorized as eutrophic.Biomass ranges from 27.25 g/m to 389.25g/m 2 throughout the experimental period and the highest dry mass valueof 389.25g/m 2 wasobserved at the eastern side during the post monsoon period.Comparatively, higher dry mass value was recorded during the post monsoon period (171.1824.03g/m 2 ) than the pre monsoon (98.351.69g/m ). Amongthe growth form, the highest and lowest biomass was represented by emergents (251.1695.16g/m 2 ),free floating species (104.7628.02g/m 2 ) andsubmergedspecies (48.39 7.27g/m 2 ) respectively; which depicts the decrease inproductivity with the corresponding increase in depth contour. The reportedspeciesposses economic uses and ecological values including their role as a fishfood to human food and sheltering habitat to invertebrate and birds. The nuisanceof aquatic weeds has thwarted the lake to develop as a major ecotouristicdestination by impendingrecreationalandecological values. The principal threatsto the lake include; siltation, eutrophication, agricultural runoff and lake areaencroachment. Suggested management approaches include integrated land useplanning of the shoreline campaigning awareness among general public,demarcation of lake boundary and conservation through wise utilization ofaquatic plant resources. Key words: Siltation, Eutrophication, ConservationBiomass Species diversity, LimnologyItem Habitat characteristics, population structure, and vegetative and reproductive traits of Juniperus indica Bertol. along elevation gradient in Manang, Nepal(Department of Botany, 2014) Chapagain, ArjunElevation gradients are complex involving different co-varying factors that influence plant population structure and in traits related to life history. Studies pertaining to variation in such traits along the gradient provide opportunities to examine performance of plant populations under a range of environmental conditions. This study aims to assess variations in population structure and vegetative and reproductive traits of Juniperus indica Bertol. along elevation gradient in Manang, north-central Nepal. The whole of its distribution range was divided into lower- (3350-3580 m), mid- (3650-3880 m) and higher- (3950-4250 m) elevation bands, where populations were sampled in a total of 54 plots (18 plots per band) of 10 m x 10 m size. In each plot, we recorded habitat characteristics; number of individuals of J. indica classified into seedling, juvenile and adult; and vegetative (plant height, trunk diameter, canopy radius and leaf biomass) and reproductive (number of fruits per plant) traits of its adult individuals. J. indica preferred dry, rocky habitats in SE- to SW-facing slopes, along with Rosa-Berberis-Juniper shrubland, subalpine and alpine grasslands, and open forests. Altogether, 88 plant species, associated with J. indica, were identified. Plots in the lower- and mid-elevation bands mostly comprised woody shrubs, whereas herbaceous species dominated the higher-elevation band. Mid-elevation band tended to show highest density of seedlings and juveniles, but adult density was high in the plots at lower-elevation band. J. indica exhibited almost similar population structure in three bands, with high contribution of juveniles than seedlings and adults. However, proportion of adult was high in lower-elevation, whereas proportions of seedling and juvenile tended to be high in mid- and higher-elevations. Density-diameter (d-d) curve for adult J. indica was reverse J-shaped, indicating continuous regeneration. Most of the individuals were of moderate to small size. Mean leaf dry biomass was 28.98 kg per ha. The number of fruits per plant ranged 10-1040 (mean 202.9). J. indica showed higher values of all studied traits in lower-elevation than in mid- and higher-elevation bands. Trunk diameter, leaf dry weight and fruits set parameters spatially varied within the same elevation band. Regression analysis showed that the canopy area was the strongest allometric variable for predicting total leaf biomass. Population density of J. Indica and its vegetative and reproductive traits are influenced differently by the variations in elevation. It is concluded that J. indica in Manang exhibits successful regeneration despite harsh ecological conditions. Higher regeneration at mid- and higher-elevation bands indicates plants ability to tolerate adverse environmental conditions as well as a tendency for expansion of its distribution niche towards cooler habitat of high elevation. The use of outer canopy area is the best option for nondestructively estimating above ground biomass of J. indica. Key words: biomass, population density, regeneration, reproductive trait, vegetative trait.Item Improved Cooking Stove and its Impact on Women ( A Case Study of Thanapati VDC Ward No. 3, Nuwakot District )(Central Department of Rural Development Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, 2011-07) Thapaliya, KarunaIn nearly all developing countries biomass represents about 80% of the energy balance used for cooking purposes. This biomass is used in very inefficient stove and wasting alot of energy. This fact contributes to the continuing process of deforestation in developing countries. The sustainability is only achievable ifa fair profit for all actors of the production and disteribution chain is guaranteed. The present study site is situated in in Thanapati VDC, one out of the sixty one of the Nuwakot District in hill of central development region. It is situated in the North east side from the district headquarter. The study tries to show the impact of improved cooking stoves on women. It also focuses on the socio-economic, environmental and health impact on women and others as well. Use of traditional stoves such as “agenu” and “chulo” consumes more fuel woods and increases the burden on women. Women are mainly responsible for cooking and collection of bio-mass, mainly fuel wood from the forest. Use of biomass energy and low grade biomass fuels lead to excessive level of indoor smoke/air pollution. Women and children in particular are exposed to the smoke emission. This is one of the reasons for higher rate of infant mortality and morbidity and other unhealthy living conditions. Release of incomplete carbon gas and other harmful particles in the atmosphere due the poor combustion of biomass fuel in rudimentary stoves results the emission of green house gas. More then 80% of the energy needs are met by fuel wood thus exerting immense pressure on the forest resources of the country with negative impacts on environment. During the study both primary and secondary data have been used. Household survey, observation, interview , focus group discussion method were carried out to get primary data and both published and unpublished sources were used as a source of secondary data. Out of total households of 200, in ward 3, 20% of them have atken as sample of the study. The study shows that, 45% of the chhetri population have installed the ICS followed by Brahmins with 35%. The primary occupation of the study site is agriculture where 30.07% are engaged on it. 75% of the respondent said that the system is very usefull for the households. Because of growing population in developing countries and the inefficient use of biomass, the pressure on the forest resources become more and more crucial. More and more trees disappear for the landscape and are not replaced . Senegal loses for example every year some 45000 hectares of forest areas. Other fuels such as gas, petroleum or electricity are too expensive for the biggest part of households in while they are cooking . Dr. Marlis Kees from GTZ underline that improve stoves “ studies have showed that respiratory diseases by women and children can be reduced 50%”. This fact shows that th reductiom of smoke is as imporant as the reduction of biomass consumption. A stove with the same biomass consumption as a traditional one but with far less smoke can be considered to be an improved stove. In Nepal, women are mainly responsible for cooking activities and collecting firewood. With the decrease in the availabitlity of fuel wood, drudgery of women is increasing and they have to spend more time collecting fuel wood. Study have shown that ICS has efficiency of 15-25% and fuel wood saving is 30-35%. Thus, contributing in the drudgery reduction of women reducting their cooking time and hardship in collection of scarce fuel wood. Women are generally accompanied by their children in the kitchen and are expose to indoor air pollution. The indoor air pollution due to the combustion of biomass fuel is main cause of Acut Respiratory Infection(ARI), Chronic Obstructive Lung Diseases (COLD), Eye Infection and Pheumonia in women and children. Studies have shown that the use of ICS human exposure to pollutants in the kitchen environment has been reduced by an average of 69% carbon monoxide concentration. In a simpler term most of the women using ICS have respondended that they had Asthma and Eye Burning due to traditional stoves but the situation has improved after the installation of ICS and they have no complain of burning eyes and breathing problem.Item Study on Phytoremediation and Biomass-Adsorption of Cationic and Anionic Dye using Azolla Pinnata(I.O.E. Pulchowk Campus, 2022-10) Gyawali, ManojWaste water generated from the textile industry consists of non- biodegradable complex compounds such as dye. This waste water can be toxic to the living organism. Hence, the treatment of the waste water consisting dye is very important before it is released streams, lake, river etc. Among the several methods of dye waste water treatment such as adsorption, filtration, bio adsorption and photo degradation, Phytoremediation is suitable because it is naturally occurring process on which micro-organism or plant transforms or immobilize the complex compounds such as dye. Azolla Pinnata, phytoremediation plant can be used for extraction of the dye and complex compound from waste water.