ALBERT

Notes: The population dynamics of Eupatorium adenophorum Spreng. and E. riparium Regel was studied in the field for 2 years, in relation to burning, by following the fate of individuals in permanent quadrats at short and regular time intervals. Both species showed increased population density and longevity of individuals on the burnt site. Adult and seedling populations of both species showed greater survival in the burnt plot. Eupatorium riparium survived better than E. adenophorum adults after burning. In the unburnt plot, however, the seedling survival of both species was nil. The heavy juvenile mortality of both species in the unburnt situation is attributed to the accumulation of a thick layer of pine needles and the growth of herbaceous vegetation. Moisture stress and low temperature in winter months also seem involved in the regulation of seedling population of these two weeds.

Notes: Population behaviour of two sympatric annual weeds, Galinsoga ciliata (Raf.) Blake and G. parviflora Cav., which occur abundantly in hill agro-ecosystems and secondary successional communities of north-east India, was studied in response to light intensity and 2,4-D application. Survival and growth of the two weeds were adversely affected by reduction in light intensity and increased concentration of 2,4-D. G. ciliata was more susceptible to 2,4-D, whereas G. parviflora to decrease in light. Leaf area ratio in G. ciliata increased under low light regime while that in G. parviflora decreased. The increased concentration of 2,4-D caused more severe effect on both weeds. The effect was, however, modified by the light intensity and age of plant at which the herbicide was applied. The application of 2,4-D at seedling stage under the high light regime caused greater mortality and growth reduction in both weeds, while the herbicide application at flowering stage resulted in much reduced production of viable seeds. Réglementation des peuplements de Galinsoga ciliata (Raf.) Blake et G. parviflora Cav.: Effet de l'application de 2,4-D à différents stades végétatifs et par des régimes lumineux variésLe comportement de peuplements de deux mauvaises herbes annuelles sympatriques, Galinsoga ciliata (Raf.) Blake et G. parviflora Cav., qui abondent dans les agro-écosystèmes de montagne ainsi que les communautés secondaires de succession dans le nord-est des Indes, a fait l'objet d'une étude par rapport à l'intensité lumineuse et aux applications de 2,4-D. Une luminosité moins intense, ainsi qu'une plus forte concentration de 2,4-D, a fait preuve d'une influence néfaste sur la croissance des deux adventices. G. ciliata s'est montré plus sensible envers le 2,4-D tandis que G. parviflora a réagi davantage à la diminution de lumière. Chez G. ciliata, la proportion de superficie foliaire a augmenté par un régime de faible luminosité tandis que chez G. parviflora elle a diminué. Une concentration plus importante de 2,4-D a augmenté l'effet néfaste chez les deux espèces. Cependant cet effet a subi des modifications selon la luminosité ainsi que l'âge de la plante au moment du traitement herbicide. Appliqué au stade plantule par une forte luminosité, le 2,4-D a provoqué chez les deux adventices une mortalité et une réduction de croissance plus marquées, tandis qu'une application à la fleuraison a amené une baisse considérable dans le nombre de graines viables. Populationsregulation von Galinsoga ciliata (Raf.) Blake und G. parviflora Cav.: Wirkung von 2,4-D Applikationen auf verschiedene Wachstums-stadien unter verschiedenen LichtbedingungenEs wurde die Populationsdynamik zweier einjähriger, in denselben Arealen vorkommenden Unkräuter, Galinsoga ciliata (Raf.) Bale und G. parviflora Cav., häufig in Agro-Oekosystemen und sekundären Pflanzengesellschaften Nordost-Indiens vorhanden, in Bezug auf Einfluss von Licht und 2,4-D Applikation studiert. Das Ueberleben und das Wachstum der zwei Unkräuter wurde in gegensätzlicher Weise vonmay der Lichtintensität und steigender 2,4-D Konzentration beeinflusst. G. ciliata war empfindlicher auf 2,4-D; G. parviflora, jedoch, gegenüber starker Belichtung. Während die Blattfläche von G. ciliata bei schwachem Lichtangebot zunahm, nahm sie bei G. parviflora ab. An beiden Unkräutern verursachten steigende 2,4-D Konzentrationen eine zunehmende Wirkung. Dieser Effekt wurde allerdings durch Lichteinfluss und Alter der Pflanzen bei der Herbizidan-wendung beeinflusst. 2,4-D Applikation im Keimlingsstadium und unter hohem Lichtangebot verursachte eine höhere Mortalitätsrate und eine stärkere Wachstumsverringerung bei beiden Species, während die Herbizidbehandlung auf blühende Pflanzen eine stark verminderte Produktion lebensfähiger Samen zur Folge hatte.

Notes: Change in the viable seed populations of three weed species, Galinsoga ciliata (Rafin) Blake, Polygonum alatum Buch. Ham. and Spergula arvensis L. in soil was studied in potato, radish, cabbage and cabbage+radish (mixed to gether) fields under shifting agriculture (locally called jhum) and terrace cultivation in northeast India from October 1988 to September 1989. The effect of weeding frequency on the viable weed seed populations of these weeds was also investigated. In most fields seed populations were smaller during the rainy season than during other seasons. Initially, the viable seed populations of all three weed species showed a significant (P〈0.05) decrease with increasing soil depth in all crop fields under jhum cultivation. However, there was no clear trend in the terraced fields. At the end of the study period the trend was not clear in all crop fields under either jhum or terrace cultivations. In the ‘normally weeded plots’ the viable seed populations of S. arvensis and P. alatum recorded about a 2% increase in jhum fields, while in the terraced fields they showed a loss of 4% over the 1-year period. The ‘frequently weeded plots’ however, showed a sharp decline in viable seed populations in all crop fields. Dynamique des populations des graines de mauvaises herbes enfouies: influence de l'agriculture itinérante et de la culture en terrasses dans les zones humides sub-tropicales de l'Inde Les changements dans les populations de graines viables de trois espèces de mauvaises herbes, Galinsoga ciliata (Rafin) Blake, Polygonum alatum Buch. Ham. et Spergula arvensis L., ont étéétudiés dans des champs de pomme de terre, de radis, de chou et de chou et radis (en mélange) dans des conditions d'agriculture itinérante (appelée localement jhum) et d'agriculture en terrasses dans le nord-est de l'Inde, d'octobre 1988 à septembre 1989. L'effet de la fréquence de désherbage sur les populations de graines viables de ces mauvaises herbes a aussi étéétudié. Dans la plupart des champs, les populations de graines étaient plus réduites pendant la saison des pluies que pendant les autres saisons. Au début de l'étude, les populations de graines viables des trois espèces de mauvaises herbes montraient dans toutes les cultures jhum une décroissance significative (P〈0.05) avec la profondeur dans le sol. Par contre, il n'y avait pas de relation claire dans les champs en terrasses. À la fin de l'étude, la tendance n'était claire dans aucun des champs, qu'il soient en culture jhum ou en terrasses. Sur la période d'un an qu'a duré l'étude, et dans les parcelles ‘normalement désherbées’, les populations de graines viables de S. arvensis et de P. alatum ont augmenté de 2% dans les champs jhum, alors que dans les champs en terrasses, elles ont chuté de 4%. Cependant, dans les parcelles fréquemment désherbées, les populations de graines viables décroissaient rapidement dans tous les champs. Populationsdynamik des Unkrautsamenvorrats im Boden unter dem Einfluß von Rodungs- und Terrassen-Kulturen in humid subtropischen Gebieten Indiens Veränderungen der Samenpopulation der 3 Unkrautarten Galinsoga ciliata (Rafin) Blake, Polygonum alatum Buch. Ham. und Spergula arvensis L. im Boden wurden in Kartoffeln, Rettich, Kohl und Mischbeständen von Kohl und Rettich bei wandernden Rodungskulturen (Jhum genannt) und Terrassenkulturen in Nordostindien zwischen Oktober 1988 und September 1989 untersucht. Die Wirkung der Häufigkeit des Jätens auf die Populationen lebensfähiger Unkrautsamen wurde auch untersucht. Auf den meisten Feldern waren die Samenpopulationen während der Regenzeit kleiner als in der übrigen Jahreszeit. Anfänglich nahm die Samendichte aller 3 Unkrautarten mit zunehmender Bodentiefe in allen Jhum-Kulturen signifikant ab (P〈0.05). In den Terrassenkulturen jedoch waren die Verhältnisse nicht klar. Zum Ende der Untersuchungsperiode war sowohl bei der Jhum- als auch der Terrassenkultur die Verteilung der Samen im Boden gleich. Auf den Jhum-Feldern nahmen die Samenpopulationen von S. arvensis und P. alatum bei normalem Jäten um 2% zu. während sie bei der Terrassenkultur um 4% abnahmen. Bei häufigem Jäten jedoch nahmen die Samenpopulationen in allen Kulturen sehr deutlich ab.

Notes: The reproductive strategies of two weeds, Spergula arvensis L. and Plantago major L., were studied in relation to soil texture and moisture regime. On sandy soil, daily watering gave greatest dry wt per plant in S. arivensis, while fortnightly watering gave the greatest in P. major. In P. major, seed production was increased with increased moisture stress in sandy soil, but not in garden soil when watered fortnightly. Conversely, S. arvensis showed a decrease in seed number with increasing moisture stress in both soil types. The reproductive effort of S. arvensis was much greater (26.2–63.1%) than P. major (2.3–9.2%). There was greater emphasis on reproduction by S. arvensis under both soil types and various moisture regimes while P. major was characterized by higher allocation to vegetative structures which may confer a competitive advantage by increasing its efficiency of resource capture. Thus, S. arvensis seems to be r-selected and P. major K-selected. The differences in the reproductive strategies of the two weeds are discussed with reference to the environmental conditions under which they grow in nature.

Notes: Summary Ray achenes ofGalinsoga parviflora Cav. are significantly heavier, higher in calorific value and contain more protien and carbohydrate than disc achenes. The ray achenes showed early and better germination from different sowing depths and the seedlings from these grew better under nutrient deficient conditions. The differential response of the 2 achenes has been attributed to differences in the seed reserves and has an adaptive significance.

Notes: Abstract Laboratory net N mineralization as influenced by leaf litter quality of several subtropical tree species was studied in soils of forest regrowths of three different age groups. Concentrations of NH4 + and NO3 – in the soil generally increased with age of forest regrowth. However, during incubation concentrations fluctuated markedly. In the “soil only” treatment, the cumulative N mineralization, ammonification and nitrification rates were highest in soils of the 13-year-old regrowth, followed by those of the 16- and 7-year-old regrowths. Soils from all three regrowths planted with Quercus dealbata had greater N mineralization rates than soils planted with Pinus kesiya. Overall, leaf litter of Schima khasiana showed the highest release of N, followed by leaf litter of Q. griffithii; greatest immobilization of N was recorded for Rhododendron arboreum leaves and P. kesiya needles. The percentage of N accumulated/depleted from the leaf litter correlated positively with the initial N concentration, and correlated negatively with the lignin content and C/N ratio.

Notes: Abstract We have studied the role of interlayer interactions (W) in the pressure dependence of T c of layered superconductors. The expressions for dT c /dP are obtained by including the effects of layered structure within the framework of two different proposed models, namely the negative-U Hubbard model and the Hirsch model. We observe that the inclusion of interlayer interaction provides better explanation of pressure dependence of T c . Our numerical results show that the systems having one CuO2 layer per unit cell may be well described by small values of W while the larger values of W accounts for the systems having two or more superconducting layers in a unit cell. The calculated values of dT c /dP vs. W are found to be in good agreement with those of experimental results obtained for various high T c superconductors of cuprate family.

Notes: Abstract We studied the role of interlayer and intersite interactions on transition temperature and specific heat of layered high-T c cuprates. We used double-time Green's function technique in the spirit of mean field approximation in order to obtain the expressions for hole density, transition temperature, and specific heat. These expressions are found to be dependent on the carrier concentration and intersite and interlayer interactions. The numerical analysis shows that the effect of intersite interaction on transition temperature and specific heat is qualitatively similar to that of interlayer interactions and provides favorable conditions to establish long-range order in the superconducting state.

Notes: Summary A steady, linearized flow of a conducting fluid withn non-equilibrium processes in parallel has been considered and neglecting the effects due to viscosity, heat conduction and diffusion and assuming the electrical conductivity to be infinite, a single equation for the flow variables has been derived when the undisturbed uniform magnetic field is aligned to the undisturbed uniform fluid stream. The solution of the equation has been obtained for a flow over a two-dimensional wavy wall. The pressure, net pressure i.e. the difference between the local static, pressure and force per unit area arising from the surface current, drag coefficient and total drag coefficient have been calculated and the results have been discussed. It is found that for certain values of the equilibrium Mach number and the magnetic pressure number negative drag coefficient as well as negative total drag coefficient occur in the flow.

Notes: Abstract Microenvironmental variability and species diversity in gaps and forest understorey were studied to assess the role of treefall gaps in maintaining composition and patchy distribution in a broad-leaved sub-tropical climax forest, Mawphlang, Meghalaya, India. Photon flux density was higher in gaps than in the surrounding understorey. Relative humidity was low and the litter layer was relatively thin in gaps throughout the year. Soil moisture and photon flux density in the gaps significantly varied between seasons and gaps of different sizes. Relative humidity significantly varied between seasons but difference among gaps was insignificant. Among-gap and among-season variations in soil and air temperature were insignificant. The number of tree species in the gaps was positively correlated with gap area, and tree species abundance showed higher equitability in larger than in smaller gaps. In gaps, α-diversity was highest for herbs and lowest for shrubs. β-diversity was highest for shrubs and lowest for tree seedlings. α-diversity of tree seedlings was higher in the gaps than in the forest understorey. Conversely, β-diversity was higher in the understorey than in the gaps. Low species similarity for tree seedlings among the gaps could be an effect of patchy distribution of parent tree species in the forest. Thus a significant change in light and moisture regimes along the gap size gradient played an important role in influencing the composition and abundance of shade tolerant and intolerant tree species in gaps on one hand, and affected the overall species diversity of the forest, on the other.