PG Thesis
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Item Soil carbon stocks and their thermal stability in the agroforestry systems of manali watershed,Thrissur(College of Climate Change and Environmental Science , Vellanikkara, 2023-12-07) Nimisha, P H; Sandeep , SDepletion of SOC pools has a detrimental effect on soil quality, biomass productivity, and water quality, and the problem could get worse due to projected global warming. Agroforestry can act as a potential mitigative measure to cope up with the adverse effects of climate change. In Kerala, an agroforestry technique based on integrated coconut farming has traditionally shown promise in homegardens. Homegarden study focuses on coconut based agroforestry systems, evaluating carbon storage capacities across three home garden sizes (small homegarden is 0.4 ha). In these HGs, the carbon stock and soil organic carbon at various soil depths were examined. The selected homegardens were in Manali watershed region in Thrissur district. The soil properties or carbon stocks didn’t vary significantly between the three home garden systems. However, the amount of carbon stored in the different sized aggregates were found to vary between the systems and with depth in each system. Finest fraction ( <0.2mm) stores more carbon. Though having similar carbon stocks, the carbon decomposition rate was lowest and activation energy maximum in small home gardens indicating that carbon in these systems were comparatively stable than the other studied systems under future rises in temperature. Agroforestry has bright future possibilities due to growing acknowledgement of its value in promoting sustainable agriculture and mitigating climate change. Future agricultural and environmental policies must include agroforestry because it may boost biodiversity, reduce carbon emissions, and improve food security.Item Influence of vegetation on the hydrologic characteristics of pananchery and poovanchira watersheds of Thrissur, Kerala(Department of natural resource management, college of forestry, Vellanikkara, 2023-07-05) Haffis Mohammed; Gopakumar,SThe present study aimed to evaluate the impact of vegetation on hydrological characteristics in forested watersheds with a paired watershed approach. Two watersheds, Pananchery and Poovanchira, in Thrissur, Kerala, were investigated to quantify the hydrological differences between the two and assess the relationship with vegetation characteristics. Vegetation analysis showed that Pananchery had a tree density of 580 individuals per hectare. During the monsoon season this watershed had a mean canopy closure of 86.13%, while in the post-monsoon it was 88.07%. Poovanchira had a higher tree density of 773 individuals per hectare and a lower mean canopy closure of 82.35% in the monsoon and 83.22% in the post-monsoon. By comparing the landuse patter of both the watersheds it was understood that both watersheds are having diverse land cover, encompassing various types of vegetation such as reserve forests, rubber plantations, mixed crops, and areas converted for paddy cultivation. The Pananchery watershed, spanning 9.87 km², had a significant proportion (33.19%) covered by reserve forest, whereas the Poovanchira watershed covered 5.55 km², with a majority (64.63%) of the area consisting of reserve forest. For understanding the hydrological characteristics (rainfall, stream flow, discharge rate, etc.) of both watersheds were studied. During months with heavy rainfall both watersheds showed higher stream flow. Pananchery showed a higher discharge rate than Poovanchira. The mean specific yield values in the Pananchery area (0.136 m³/hr) were slightly higher than in the Poovanchira area (0.131 m³/hr). In terms of water quality parameters, Poovanchira showed higher mean values for water quality parameters such as electrical conductivity, turbidity, and nitrate concentration whereas dissolved oxygen concentration was found to be higher in Pananchery (5.84 mg/L) compared to Poovanchira (4.84 mg/L). The results indicate that though vegetation has a significant impact on water quality, the hydrological characteristics of a watershed also depend on multiple factors including topography and geology. Further investigation is necessary to better understand the interplay between these factors in shaping the hydrological characteristics of forested watersheds.Item Influence of vegetation on the hydrologic characteristics of Irumbupalam and Mayiladumpara watersheds in Peechi - Vazhani wildlife sanctuary, Thrissur, Kerala(Department of Natural Resource Management, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2022-10-25) Bhawane Akash Kailas; Gopakumar, SForest vegetation and water are two valuable resources for mankind, and both the resources influence each other. It is important to understand the interrelationship between forest vegetation and hydrology. The present study was undertaken in Irumbupalam and Mayiladumpara watersheds in Peechi-Vazhani wildlife sanctuary, Thrissur, Kerala. The aim of the study was to identify and quantify the hydrological differences between these watersheds and assess the extent to which these differences are related to vegetation characteristics. Mayiladumpara watershed comprised of eight different land use classes of which mixed crops and trees accounts highest (27.91%) area whereas Irumbupalam comprised of three land use classes, of which, reserved forest occupied the highest (67.74%) of area. Within each watershed, twenty-two, 10 m x 10 m sample plots were laid out for detailed enumeration of vegetation and soil parameters. The Irumbupalam harbored a greater number of tree species (38) compared to the Mayiladumpara (28). The mean tree density ha-1 was higher in Mayiladumpara (586 individuals ha-1 ) compared to Irumbupalam (509 individuals ha-1 ). Similarly, the mean tree basal area was greater in Mayiladumpara (45.48 m2 ha-1 ) as compared to Irumbupalam (13.97 m2 ha-1 ). The tree diversity was found to be maximum in Irumbupalam watershed. Physico- chemical properties of soil viz. soil pH, organic carbon, water holding capacity, soil moisture and soil porosity showed showed higher values for Irumbupalam watershed. There were differences in terms of soil physico- chemical properties in watersheds between pre-monsoon and monsoon season. The highest values for soil pH (5.87-7.05), C (2.12-6.61%), porosity (41.42-44.95 %), WHC (41.85-72.92 %), SM (9.2- 44.07 %) was recorded in Irumbupalam. Whereas, BD (0.74-1.64 gm cm-3) values were higher in Mayiladumpara than Irumbupalam. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed a complex interrelationship amongst species clustering, site and soil properties. 118 Mean annual precipitation for both watersheds were recorded. Stream flow measurements were taken monthly for stream depth and stream velocity using float method. Groundwater levels observations was taken monthly from selected wells. Water quality parameter was assessed monthly from upstream, mid-stream and downstream points for both watersheds. Mean rainfall for Irumbupalam and Mayiladumpara for the period (2017-21) was 457 mm and 514.8 mm respectively in the pre-monsoon season, and 1555.5 mm and 1567.7 mm in the monsoon season. Mayiladumpara's monthly streamflow was always higher than Irumbupalam. The pre-monsoon water yield of well was higher in Irumbupalam as compared to Mayiladumpara. The Irumbupalam watershed always had a higher water table than the Mayiladumpara watershed. Stream water temperature (WT), total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), turbidity, nitrate (NO3- ) were significantly (p<0.05) higher in Mayiladumpara Irumbupalam. In contrast, dissolved oxygen (DO) and pH of water was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the Irumbupalam. Seasonal variation was observed in the physico-chemical properties of stream water both in watersheds over the study period of eight months. Pearson correlation coefficient revealed that canopy closure was significantly related to some hydrological parameters. Canopy closure was significantly correlated with four water physico-chemical parameters (p<0.05) viz., dissolved oxygen (DO), temperature, electrical conductivity (EC), (NO3-). This indicated that canopy closure is related to water quality. Canopy cover was positively correlated (p<0.05) with DO and negatively correlated with nitrate (NO3- ) (p<0.05). Quantitative as well as qualitative hydrological differences was observed between these watersheds. The physico-chemical parameters of stream water like Dissolved oxygen, Electrical conductivity, Water temperature, Nitrate was found to be influenced by canopy closure of watersheds. The Canopy closure was significantly and positively correlated with soil water holding capacity, soil moisture and soil organic carbon. Soil water holding capacity was found to be significantly and positively correlated with soil porosity, soil moisture soilItem Analysis of urban microclimates (UMCs) in Thrissur corporation using micro meteorological measurements and remote sensing data(Department of Natural Resource Management, College of Forestry,Vellanikkara, 2022-10-12) Mamatha, N A; Gopakumar, SGlobal urban population is increasing at an alarming rate. Unplanned and inadequately managed urbanization has profound effects on microclimate. The unplanned urbanization could transform cities and townships into urban heat islands (UHI) one of the most evident climatic modifications in urbanized areas. The increased heat in the cities affect the environment and the thermal comfort of organisms. Understanding the urban climate is very necessary to make the cities sustainable. The objective of this study is to investigate and analyse the urban microclimates in Thrissur Corporation limits and to understand their linkages with urban greenery. This study will also examine and analyse the perceptions of urban residents in the study locations about different aspects of climate change. The LULC map of Thrissur Corporation was prepared based on NRC guidelines in ArcGIS using Landsat 8 satellite data acquired from Earth Explorer. Three urban LULC class were selected to take the in-situ temperature measurement. Ambient air temperature and relative humidity were measured during the study period in morning 7.30 am and afternoon 2.30pm, the data is further used to assessing urban heat island intensity. Highest temperature was recorded from LULC urban compact, that constitute the commercial center of the city, where the region occupied by highly dense buildings, dense population, heavy traffic, pavement and other impervious structures. The temperature recorded from other urban LULC classes such as urban_sparse and urban- _vegetation is comparatively low. The least temperature was recorded from urban_vegetation. It was noted that temperature difference between LULC classes such as urban_compact, urban_sparse and urban_vegetation is prominent during afternoon compared to morning air temperature. The urban heat island intensity ranging between 0ºC -5.53ºC was observed in LULC class urban_compact. Land surface temperature (LST) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) of various LULC classes in Thrissur corporation was estimated and it was found that the LST is maximum in the LULC urban_compact, where the NDVI values are minimum. Whereas the LST is minimum in the LULC cropland_paddy where the NDVI is maximum. Among the three urban classes, viz. the urban_compact, urban_sparse and urban_vegetated the minimum LST was estimated in the LULC urban_vegetated. To understand the linkage between microclimate and urban greenery correlation test was done between the LST and NDVI values estimated in various urban LULC classes. A strong negative correlation was observed in LULC urban_vegetated (-0.35). The correlation coefficient estimated in urban_sparse and urban_compact is - 0.46 and -0.41 respectively. A perception study was done among 30 people residing in urban area. The way people think about climate change is crucial to developing strategies to address the problem. Among the respondents, majority (80%) have the opinion that the human interventions, predominantly deforestation are the major cause of climate change. On the other hand, 20 % of the respondents are not sure whether human interventions only causes climate change or any natural causes are also there. Chi-square test was done to find the association of respondent’s age and gender with their perception on various aspects of climate change, and no association was found between the respondents age and gender with their perception on climate change. From the study it was understood that the UHI has been developed in the core of Thrissur muncipal corporation belongs to LULC class urban_compact that includes places like East fort, High road and North bus stand. The study also observed the role of urban vegetation in mitigating the urbanization induced climatic modification. However a more focused study considering extra parameter such as air quality , wind speed and wind direction etc will give a better understanding of UMC. In the wake of rapid urbanization UMC study would be helpful in modelling cities for sustainable development.Item SHG-Bank linkage programme - a study in Thrissur district(Department of Rural Banking and Finance Management, College of Co-operation Banking and Management, Vellanikkara, 2008) Vijitha, V N; Molly, JosephSelf Help Groups have been recognized by the policy makers as an effective tool for accomplishing the distributional objectives of monetary policy. The SHG model with bank lending to groups of poor women without collateral has become an accepted part of rural finance. With over 11 million poor households accessing banking services including micro credit through their 29,24,973 SHGs, the SHG-Bank Linkage Programme led by NABARD in India claims to be the largest and fastest growing micro finance programme in the world. The study entitled “SHG – Bank Linkage Programme: A study in Thrissur District” has been undertaken with the objectives of analyzing the level and pattern of utilization of bank finance by the Self Help Group and their members under the SHG- Bank Linkage Programme; to identify the constraints, if any, in the SHG – Bank Linkage Programme: and to make a bank-wise and spatial comparison of the SHG- Bank linkage Programme. Both primary and secondary data have been used for the study. Primary data have been collected from 30 SHGs and 90 members from the three models of SHGs functioning in Thrissur district. Percentages, averages, T- test, Shannon Weaver Diversity Index and ANOVA have been used for the analysis of the data collected. The study has revealed that the average loan amount per member / household is as high as Rs. 15100/- in the case of the SHGs selected, while the national average is only Rs. 2025/-. There is cent per cent utilization of loans of banks by the SHGs and their members. In aggregate, more than 50 per cent of the loans enjoyed by SHG members are utilized for consumption purposes. But when a comparison of the SHGs under different models are considered, it is seen that two – third of the loans of SHGs which are promoted and financed by banks are given for income generating purposes. The least share for income generating activities is from the members of SHGs which are promoted by NGOs. A tendency among SHGs to lend their funds at high rate of interest to outsiders was noticed. This would further bring down the involvement of members in income generating activities in the future. The development of caste and community based sub groups within the SHGs is an undesirable development which has been noticed during the study. The problem of decreasing productive activities was noted, which in future might lead to low repayments. Kendall’s Co-efficient of Concordance has proved that there is perfect agreement among the fifteen banks that ranked the twelve constraints of SHG – Bank Linkage Programme. There is a positive growth in the SHG-Bank linkage programme in the entire six regions taken under consideration. The trend in the physical and financial performance of SHG-Bank linkage programme is positive in all the regions except the central region where adequate up scaling measures are taken by NABARD. Shannon Weaver Diversity Index computed for loan per SHG under the different regions revealed that there was an increased tendency for a uniform disbursal of the loan amount over the three models. The study has brought out the increasing significance of this informal system of financing to bring the poor and unbankable within the reach of a formal banking system. Efforts from the promoters, banks, NABARD and other agencies involved in the promotion and development of SHGs can definitely take our Self Help Groups and their member beneficiaries to still further heights in the future.