Survival, growth and biomass production of Colophosperpum mopane was studied with gypsum and nitrogen on loamy sand saline alkali soil in hot arid region of Rajasthan state in India. A field trial was laid out with two levels of gypsum (0 and 100% soil G.R.) and three doses of nitrogen (0, 9 and 18 g of N in the form of urea) on two soil structures (control and circular dish mound - CDM) in a randomized block design in August 2003. After five years C. mopane maintained 89% overall mean survival (86.5% in control and 92.1% on CDM). Plants on CDM structure attained mean height of 113 cm and 158 cm crown diameter compared to 101 and 151 cm for control. Treatments T3 (N1) and T4 (N2) attained significantly more height and crown diameter than T1 and T2 though the difference was not significant. Overall, plants on CDM recorded, on an average, 1450 g green biomass per plant which was 5.9% more compared to plants grown under control condition (1370g). The difference was 9.1% for leaf and 5.2% branch component, respectively. Mean fresh root-mass was 32% higher in control (729.1 g tree-1) compared to CDM (552.5 g tree-1); the effect was visible in all the treatments. Number of roots, with < 50 cm length (6 to 15), in control was more than for the corresponding treatment on CDM. The trend was opposite for roots with < 50 cm length. Smaller roots were thicker resulting in higher root mass for control treatments. Roots get thinner as they penetrated CaCO3 layer. However, overall mean root length (821cm) and root numbers (14.5) were almost same for both the structures. Nitrogen in combination to gypsum significantly influenced the growth and biomass (above and below ground) irrespective of soil structures. N1 dose was more effective followed by N1. It did not suppress the growth of indigenous salt tolerant grasses mainly Sporobolous diander and Chloris virgata. It adapted well, flowered, produced viable seed and natural germination is also observed through seed.

The plant resources of Sitamata Wildlife Sanctuary for family acanthaceae were studied and analyzed. During the study 17 genera and 20 species of this were recorded. The sanctuary is characterized by herbs dominate the flora followed by trees, climbers and shrubs. Dominance of phanerophytes indicates the tropical moist and humid climate. Adhatoda zeylanica Medic. and Carvia callosa (Nees) Bremek is rare species in this sanctuary while most frequent occurring species is Barleria cristata L. Species such as Eranthemum purpurascens Wight ex Nees is localized along the river corners. The medicinal uses by tribes of this family were also recorded. Proper conservation and management plans are needed to save the natural resources, especially medicinal plants, of this sanctuary.

Eleven new species of Loculoascomycetes viz. Sphaerulina indica, Didymella agaves, Didymella mucosa, Didymosphaeria heteroasca, Didemosphaeria abuensis, Trematosphaeria macrospora, Leptosphaeria tori, Asterosphaeriella macrospora, Pleomassaria lantanae, Pleospora camarensis and Malanomma indicam were reported from Mount Abu, Rajasthan. Specimens were confirmed by IMI, Kew, Surrey, England and validate as new Species with IMI accession number.

The present paper deals with 44 species of grasses belonging to 33 genera which have medicinal potential in Rajasthan, 30 species have been added to the available record and several new medicinal dimensions have been provided to supplement the present knowledge about the grass species.

An attempt has been made in this paper to document the pattern of growth of coarse rainfed cereal crops in central part of Rajasthan. The secondary data from 1960-61 to 2005-06 were used. The period of study visualized as whole as well as sub division into equal periods (i.e., 1960-1981 and 1981—2006). The study revealed that, the growth rate of area of all the crops under study indicated a mixed trend i.e. growth rate of area under bajra and maize was more during period—I as compared to period-II. In case of jowar it showed mixed response. Similarly, production of all the crops was higher during period-II in most of the districts. Similar observation was seen in case of productivity of all the crops under study. The mean area under bajra and jowar crops was more during period-II in Ajmer and Tonk and Ajmer and Bhilwara, respectively. In the remaining districts, it was reverse. Similar pattern was seen in productivity of the crops. The area, production and productivity under maize was increased during period-II in Bhilwara and Bundi districts only. Instability index indicated a mixed response in all the crops i.e. either it is around trend or mean.

Jodhpur is the second largest city of Rajasthan. The City is growing at a rapid rate and various water resources to augment water requirement are insufficient and suffering from number of problems regarding the availability, distribution and quality considerations for various uses. Kailana Lake is selected as a settling tank for Himalayan water coming from Indira Gandhi NaharPariyojana. In the present study samples from open wells and tube wells of underground water resources ware collected. High nitrate contents in water samples is result of intermixing of water from sewerage lines and water supply pipe lines. High nitrate content in water is harmful for human health but after reducing nitrate level it can be used for domestic and irrigation purposes.

A study was conducted at Dryland Farming Research Station, Arjia, Bhilwara during 1996 and 1997, to find out the tillage requirement for the maize. Seven tillage systems were evaluated for production of maize in kharif season. The tillage systems included were: A. Summer (T1- Disc plough followed by cultivator, T2- Cultivator followed by cultivator,T3- Deshi plough followed by cultivator and T4- Deshi plough followed by deshi plough), B. After pre monsoon (T5- Disc plough followed by cultivator and T6- Cultivator followed by cultivator) and C. At sowing (T7 - Cultivator followed by cultivator). The tillage system comprising of summer disc ploughing followed by cultivator was more beneficial as of this resulted in higher yield and net return supported by effective reduction in runoff, soil loss and increase water use efficiency for crops in the region. However, during good and low rainfall, for higher net return, there is a need of shift in tillage practices.

On farm studies at ten sites in Narwa and Manai villages located 25 km from Jodhpur (Rajasthan) were carried out to study response of Zn application to wheat crop under saline water irrigation. At Narwa village sandy loam soils with 50 to70 cm depth and at Manai village sandy loam soils with 80 to I00 cm depth are irrigated with moderately saline water having EC 1.70 to 3.48 dS m-1 and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) 7.2 to 22.6. Soils at all the sites were, alkaline (pH 8.5 to 9.3) with EC values (0.170 to 1.32 dS m-1). non calcareous. Most of the soils were low to marginal in available Zn, marginal in the available Fe and few samples low in Cu and Mn. Observations with Zn application on the crop growth revealed that at all sites mean values were higher for plants per sq. m, plant height and spike length. This was also refflected in 5 to l0 q ha-1 increase in grain yield in Narwa village at sites of Ganga Singh, Shamsher Singh and Prema Ram and 3 to 4 q ha-1 increase_in grain yield in Manai village at Ummed Singh and Bachana Ram sites with the benefit cost (B: C) ratio ranging from 14.1:1 to 3.3:1 indicating good response of Zinc application. Low response of Zn application on wheat yield was observed in Narwa at the site of Man Singh, Dungar Ram, Hukma Ram and in Manai at the site Mod Singh. After harvest of wheat crop, the mean values of available micronutrient contents in soils of Manai village sites were slightly higher than Narwa sites. There was not much difference in mean values of available contents of Fe, Mn Zn and Cu in Zn treated and control soils of Narwa sites. Similarly in Manai village the mean values of available Fe, Mn and Cu were not much different but in Zn treated soils there was slight increase in available Zn. 

A. Ientiformis (exotic) and A. stocksii, halophytic salt bushes established and produced nitrogen rich fodder on arid salty waterlogged soil in Jodhpur. Mounding practices significantly enhanced the survival, growth and biomass production for both the species. Double ridge mound was best A. Stocksii and circular dish mound for A. Ientiformis. After 72 months, A. stocksii maintained the percent survival as 75% on DRM, 41.7% on CDM and 12.5% on control while it was 53.8(DRM), 58.0 (CDM) and 8.3 % on control, respectively, for A. Ientiformis. Overall A. Ientiformis recorded significantly more mean green and dry (2462.2 & 819.8 g) biomass compared to 1548.3 & 631.3 g for A. stocksii. Root development was alongside the ridges in DRM, while in CDM root development was in all direction along the circular mound with occasional root going out of the soil structure. Overall CDM was the best structure and it produced 562.5 & 256.0 g shrub-1 fresh and dry rootmass which was 2.8 & 15.0 and 2.1 & 12.2 times more than DRM and control respectively.

                           Introduction of canal irrigation and development of ground water led to expansion and intensi_ication of agriculture in hot arid Bikaner district of Rajasthan. New irrigated cash crops viz. wheat, mustard, groundnut, cumin, isabgol etc. came up. Increased soil moisture helped large scale gram cultivation. Agricultural production increased substantially. However these developments took place in about 12% area. A large part of rainfed drylands still remained underdeveloped. In order to assess present agricultural situation, irrigated and rainfed crop lands and other land use systems of the district are mapped using recent RS & GIS technologies. Trend in cropping pattern and crop production has been assessed using long term land use, cropping pattern and crop production data from 1957-58 to 2009-10. Economic, social and environmental impacts of such development are also discussed. Constraints and potentials in relation to agriculture are identi_ied and negative impacts of injudicious and over exploitation of natural resources are highlighted. Suggestions are made for sustainable development of irrigated and rainfed farming systems.

The present communication deals with morpho-taxonomic enumeration of 23 taxa of desmids were collected from in around Pushkar Valley of Rajasthan State in India during the period 2012-13. Notes on forms showing slight variations in morphological attributes have also been given. All these taxa have been recorded for the first time from this part of state of India.