Abstract:The Soil Conservation Service Curve Number (SCS-CN) method has been a topic of much discussion, especially in the last three decades. Recently, Michel et al. (2005) pointed out several inconsistencies in the soil moisture accounting (SMA) procedure used in the SCS-CN method and developed a procedure that is more consistent from the SMA viewpoint. However, the model proposed by them does not have any expression for initial soil moisture store level (V 0 ) and hence there is a scope for further improvement. Like the original method, there is sudden jump in V 0 and therefore a quantum jump in computed runoff is possible. In the present study, an attempt is made to develop an expression for V 0 to make the model a continuous watershed model. Then, the performance of the new model is compared with the model proposed by Michel et al. and the original SCS-CN model by applying them in a large number of small watersheds in the United States. The present model was found to perform significantly better than both the original SCS-CN model and the model proposed by Michel et al.

Employing a large dataset of 84 small watersheds (area = 0.17 to 71.99 ha) of U.S.A., this paper investigates a number of initial abstraction (I a )-potential maximum retention (S) relations incorporating antecedent moisture (M) as a function of antecedent precipitation (P 5 ), and finally suggests an improved relation for use in the popular Soil Conservation Service Curve Number (SCS-CN) methodology for determination of direct runoff from given rainfall. The improved performance of the incorporated M = α √ P 5 S and I a = λS 2 /(S + M) relations, where λ is the initial abstraction coefficient, in the SCS-CN methodology exhibits the dependence of I a on M, which is close to reality; the larger the M, the lesser will be I a , and vice versa. Such incorporation obviates sudden jumps in the curve number variation with antecedent moisture condition, an unreasonable and undesirable feature of the existing SCS-CN model.

Abstract:In the Soil Conservation Service Curve Number (SCS-CN) method, the three levels of antecedent moisture condition (AMC) permit unreasonable sudden jumps in curve numbers, which result into corresponding jumps in the estimated runoff. A few recently developed SCS-CN-based models obviate this problem, yet they have several limitations. In this study, such a model incorporating a continuous function for antecedent moisture has been presented. It has several advantages over the other existing SCS-CN-based models. Its application to a large dataset from US watersheds showed to perform better than the existing SCS-CN method and the others based on it.

Medicinal plants have been one of the prominent sources of remedies since the inception of human civilization. In rural area herbal medicines are considered to be best healthcare products due to it's easily availability. Globally, demand of herbal based medicines, health products, pharmaceuticals, food supplements, cosmetics, etc. has been intensified in alarming rate.Moringa oleifera belongs to family Moringaecea, native of the Indian subcontinent, where its diverse parts have been employed throughout history as food and medicine. The M. oleifera is extensively used for treating cancer, hyperlipidemic, diabetic, ulcer, analgesic, fertility, convulsant, liver disorder, wound, etc. Dietary consumption of its part is therein promoted as a strategy of personal health preservation and self-medication in various diseases. The phytoconstituents present in this plant are niazirin, niazirinin, flavonoids, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidin, kaempferol-3-O-(6''-malonyl-glucoside), 4-hydroxymellein, β-sitosterone, octacosanic acid, β-sitosterol, etc. These various phytoconstituents contribute for different pharmacological activities. The present review is therefore, an effort to give a detailed overview of the published writings on phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of M. oleifera; this information will be beneficial in developing new formulations, which are more effective and have more therapeutic values.

The free radicals play vital role in induction of various diseases. Natural antioxidants may help the body to protect itself from various types of oxidative damage which are linked to diseases such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disorders and aging. Martynia annua belonging to