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Greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural production systems are a major area of concern in mitigating climate change. Therefore, a study was conducted to investigate the effects of crop residue, nutrient management, and soil moisture on methane (CH4) emissions from maize, rice, soybean, and wheat production systems. In this study, incubation experiments were conducted with four residue types (maize, rice, soybean, wheat), seven nutrient management treatments {N0P0K0 (no nutrients), N0PK, N100PK, N150PK, N100PK + manure@ 5 Mg ha−1, N100PK + biochar@ 5 Mg ha−1, N150PK+ biochar@ 5 Mg ha−1}, and two soil moisture levels (80% FC, and 60% FC). The results of this study indicated that interactive effects of residue type, nutrient management, and soil moisture significantly affected methane (CH4) fluxes. After 87 days of incubation, the treatment receiving rice residue with N100PK at 60% FC had the highest cumulative CH4 mitigation of −19.4 µg C kg−1 soil, and the highest emission of CH4 was observed in wheat residue application with N0PK at 80% FC (+12.93 µg C kg−1 soil). Nutrient management had mixed effects on CH4 emissions across residue and soil moisture levels in the following order: N150PK > N0PK > N150PK + biochar > N0P0K0 > N100PK + manure > N100PK + biochar > N100PK. Decreasing soil moisture from 80% FC to 60% FC reduced methane emissions across all residue types and nutrient treatments. Wheat and maize residues exhibited the highest carbon mineralization rates, followed by rice and soybean residues. Nutrient inputs generally decreased residue carbon mineralization. The regression analysis indicated that soil moisture and residue C mineralization were the two dominant predictor variables that estimated 31% of soil methane fluxes in Vertisols. The results of this study show the complexity of methane dynamics and emphasize the importance of integrated crop, nutrient, and soil moisture (irrigation) management strategies that need to be developed to minimize methane emissions from agricultural production systems to mitigate climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Indian Grey Wolf Canis lupus pallipes is an iconic species of grassland in India. It is a Schedule 1 species according to the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and CITES Appendix 1 species. In the absence of parental care, five wolf pups were rescued from Baavarla on 26 November 2020 and brought into Machia Biological Park for hand rearing. In the absence of colostrum, a milk replacer formula (PetLac) was provided to the pups. The pups were kept at an ambient room temperature of 101°F as an adjustment to their natural surroundings. Gripe water, Vitamin A, and multivitamins were administered orally. The temperature and body growth parameters were measured and recorded weekly. Rabies vaccine was administered in the 26th week from the date of rescue. The diet of the wolf was gradually changed and from the 37th week, raw meat was included in their diet. Antibiotics Ciplox-TZ (ciprofloxacin and tinidazole tablet) Brand-Cipla and SPORLAC-DS (lactic acid bacillus tablets 120M) Brand-sanzyme Ltd. were given periodically to restore the gut fauna of the pups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large amount of waste material and tailings, generated from opencast mineral extraction, released different heavy metals and metalloids that polluted the mine surroundings soil. In the present investigation, an attempt was made to revegetate the open-cut mine affected area. Bulk soil samples were collected from derelict Frogmore tungsten mine site, and after physicochemical characterization of the soil samples, pot culture experiments were conducted in a green house. The different experimental soils like control soil, polluted soil, and polluted soil treated with the combined amendment, viz. Nano chailings (8 t/ha) + Nano composite of Zeolites + Nano Clay (Bentonite) (5%) + Nano composite of Zeolite + Zero valent iron (5%) + 5 t/ha FYM (Farm Yard Manure), were used in the investigation and maize (Zea mays L.) was taken as a test crop. This paper focused on amendments based on nano-enhanced materials. Amongst heavy metals like Cd, Ni, Zn, Cu, Pb, etc., Pb recorded the highest amount (125 mg/kg), which caused drastic reduction in different growth parameters of maize plant grown in mine spoiled soil. Microscopic structural changes, such as decrease in intercellular spaces, stomatal opening, shrinkage of palisade and epidermal cells, occurred in maize leaves grown in the mine polluted soil. Experimental results also revealed significant decrease in the fresh weight, dry weight, height, and girth of maize plants grown in mine spoiled soil. The contaminant distribution in the mine site should be considered in the design of management and remediation strategies. The possible practical consequences of these findings might be the application of nano-enhanced materials for the remediation and revegetation of the abandoned mine spoiled soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present investigation, an attempt was made to determine the direct effects of fertilizers on various soil properties like acidification, organic matter content, the content of essential and toxic trace metals in soils and food grains under long term (>25 years) fertilizer experiment. Soil and plant samples were collected from Bengaluru center of All India Coordinated Research Project on Long-Term Fertilizer Experimental site in the sub-regions AESR 8.1 of India, with the treatments e.g. control, 100% N, 100% NP, 100% NPK, 150% NPK, 100% NPK + Lime, 100% NPK+ farmyard manure (FYM) at 0 to 60 cm depth with an interval of 15 cm. Laboratory analysis was conducted to know the vertical distribution of heavy metals and micronutrient cations in soil and plant produce by following the standard method. The DTPA soil Zn remained unchanged with the higher rates of N application, i.e. 100% N. There was very little effect of N, NP, and NPK application on the buildup of DTPA-able Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu content in both the soils. However, the application of NPK + FYM showed a buildup in comparison to control for Fe 10 mg kg−1, Mn 18 mg kg−1, Zn 1.23 mg kg−1, and Cu 0.84 mg kg−1 in soil. Continuous fertilizer application contributed a meager amount accumulation of Cd, Pb, Ni, Co, and Cr in the soil under the finger millet – maize cropping sequence. The estimation of heavy metals in food grains, supposed to come from fertilizers, lime materials applied in soil was also of our concern. All the cited heavy metals were present in the maize and finger-millet grains. Risk assessment to human health (Hazard Quotient, HQ) for the intake of heavy metals through consumption of contaminated food grains was computed and observed that the values of 'HQ' for all the crops were far less than unity (<1) and safe for the consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In India, zinc (Zn) has been recognized as the fourth most important yield-limiting nutrient after nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). Supplementing the zinc (Zn) requirement of agricultural crops through water soluble zinc sulfate ZnSO4 fertilizer is a costly management option whereas, utilization of ZnO (water insoluble and a cheaper material) as a source of Zn could be an alternative cost effective option to encourage farmers for wider adoption. In this present investigation, in order to supply the requisite amount of Zn to the plants, a protocol has been developed to coat the seeds of maize (Zea mays L.), soybean (Glycine max L.), pigeon pea (Cajanas cajan L.) and ladies finger (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) with microns scale (<3 µm) and nano-scale (<100 nm) ZnO powder at 25 mg Zn/g seed and at 50 mg Zn/g seed. Different Zn sources, ethyl alcohol, and crude pine oleoresin (POR) were used for coating of seeds. The germination test carried out with coated and uncoated seeds indicated better germination percentage (93–100%) due to ZnO coating as compared to uncoated seeds (80%). Pot culture experiment conducted with coated seeds also revealed that the crop growth with ZnO coated seeds were similar to that observed with soluble Zn treatment applied as zinc sulfate heptahydrate (ZnSO4·7H2O) (at 2.5 ppm Zn) which is evident from the periodic SPAD reading taken after 20, 25, 30 and 45 days after sowing. Application of Zn through different sources also enhanced the auxin indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production in plant roots, which subsequently improved the overall growth. The most important advantage of seed coating with ZnO (both micron/nano-scale) is that it did not exert any osmotic potential at the time of germination of the seed, thus, the total requirement of Zn of the crop can be loaded with the seed effectively through nano-scale ZnO particle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper (Cu) is an essential micronutrient for plants, which acts either as the metal component of enzymes or as a functional structural or a regulatory co-factor of a large number of enzymes. To understand the possible benefits of applying nanotechnology to agriculture, the first step should be to analyze penetration and transport of nano-particles in plants. The present study was conducted to test the hypothesis that copper nanoparticle would enter into the plant cell and govern the growth of maize plant.A solution culture experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of Cu nano-particles (<50nm) on the growth and enzymatic activity of maize (Zea mays L.) plant. Bioaccumulation of Cu nano-particles in plant was also investigated. Results showed that Cu nano-particles can enter into the plant cell through roots and leaves. Bioaccumulation increased with increasing concentration of Cu nano-particles (NPs), and agglomeration of particles was observed in the cells using transmission-electron microscopy. Application of Cu nano-particles through solution culture as well as spray enhanced the growth (51%) of maize plant in comparison to control. The different enzymatic activities like glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, andguaiacol peroxidase were studied to find a possible pathway through which NPs may affect the enzymatic activity of plant. Amongst the enzymes, the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was highly influenced by copper oxide (CuO)nano-particles application by spray as well as in solution. Experimental results revealed that CuOnano-particles affected the pentose phosphate pathway of maize plant. The obtained experimental results provided conclusive evidence to indicate that the nano-particles considered under this study could enter into the plant cell, easily be assimilated by plants and also enhanced its growth by regulating the different enzyme activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]