Water quality monitoring is a crucial issue that is of global concern. The rapidly deteriorating state of lakes across the world makes their monitoring of extreme importance to ensure effective management and sustainability. The traditional monitoring approach is costly, inaccurate and highly limited. The remote sensing (RS) techniques provide unique tools to effectively monitor the surface constituents on spatio-temporal basis. However, daunting challenges are encountered during the retrieval process especially when considering turbid lakes. The present study critically addressed the challenges through careful analysis of the causes. The key challenges were observed to include atmospheric correction failure, inappropriate selection of models as well as data unavailability or inadequacy. This study investigated these challenges and proposed effective measures to overcome them. This provides vital information that would serve as a quick guide to all concerned professionals. It also adds to the effort already in place to ensure effective monitoring, studies and exploitation of turbid lakes water quality parameters. RS techniques can therefore be taken as an independent measurement tool for water management especially turbid lakes across the world.

The aim of this study was to assess the physicochemical parameters of water of Rów Złotnicki, a small stream in Poland. The research was carried out throughout the year 2012. Samples were taken every month at 5 research stations situated at different points of the stream. Several parameters of water were measured in situ (pH, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen). In addition, at each station, the volumetric flow rate was measured. Chemical analyses were made for nitrogen and phosphorus compounds using spectrophotometric methods. The results indicate variability in concentrations and loads of nutrients among the sites and dates of collecting the samples. The highest monthly phosphorus loads were observed in the second half of the year (in July and August). The approximate annual load equalled 15.5 kg. The highest concentrations out of the mineral form of nitrogen were reported for nitrates. The annual load of nitrate was over 996 kg. The highest monthly loads of total nitrogen were noted in the first half of year (from February to April). Nitrogen and phosphorus loads flowing into Strzeszyńskie Lake can deteriorate water quality and lead to its eutrophication.

The present communication is focused on the population dynamics of intertidal hermit crab Diogenes avarus (Heller, 1865) from a muddy coast off Arabian Sea (Western India). The intertidal coast was divided into two micro sampling sites based on anthropogenic pressure. Site-A was devoid of anthropogenic pressure while, Site-B was anthropogenically disturbed site as a place of worship attracts huge number of people every week. Population density and abundance of three size groups S1 (3-9 mm), S2 (10-15 mm) and S3 (16-30 mm) of D. avarus were assessed for one year at these two micro sampling sites. Results of the present investigation revealed a healthy population of selected hermit crab species in this typical muddy shore. Results indicated that the site without anthropogenic pressure showed high population of hermit crabs. It was therefore, concluded that the observed spatial variations might be due to the human interference.

In developing nations like India there is a need to improve soil health as man-made disaster has mainly resulted in solid wastes problem and information on waste quantity and composition are limited that are strategic in order to device effective waste management strategies. There is a need to study existing conditions and identify its associated problems and alternative solutions in order to shift from existing conditions to a more sustainable waste management practices. It is envisaged that solid waste compost prepared by organic matter composting can serve as a valuable organic nutrient source that can maintain long-term ecological health and simultaneously target short-term productivity gains. Also, the ill effects of chemical farming can be controlled. Moreover, in recent times India has faced rise in cost of labor, agricultural inputs and biological degradation of lands. The annual crop productivity has decreased and awareness of organic farming technology is lacking. Thus, keeping in view, the advantages of organic farming as well as its inherent limitations such as analysis and slow action, present studies had focused on domestic solid waste management by its conversion into enriched compost and to evaluate their nutritional quality. The experiments were conducted for a period of 12 months and it was concluded that during composting the E4/E6 ratio linearly increased till the 24th day and that suggests a reduction in density of organics. After this period starting from 25th day the ratio of E4/E6 subsequently reduced. This confirms that maturity had been attained between 24-32 days. Moreover, the chemical properties and micronutrient analysis conducted during experiments suggest that the obtained organic manure was qualitatively appropriate to be adopted as a cost effective fertilizer. Therefore, it can be envisaged that sustainability can be attained in agriculture by means of processed manure that are organic in nature.