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Different land use management practices e.g. native forest vegetation, pastures and the agricultural management practices (e.g. tillage, cropping system, crop residue mulching and fertilizer and manure application) influence the soil organic carbon pools, which has short term and long term implications on soil carbon dynamics. Field experiments were conducted in a sandy loam soil of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi research farm during the kharif season (July to October) of 2012 and 2013 with the objective to study the short term (2 years) impact of irrigation, crop residue mulch and nitrogen management in maize on soil organic carbon pools and to identify the best management practice in terms of Carbon Management Index (CMI). Maize (cv. HQPM 1) was grown in a split-split plot design with two levels of irrigation (irrigated and rainfed) as main factor, two levels of mulch (No mulch and wheat residue at a rate of 10 Mg/ha as mulch) as sub factor and three levels of nitrogen (0, 75 and 150 kg N/ha) as subsub factor. The results showed that total organic carbon (TOC) increased by 40.5% in irrigation treatment compared to the rainfed treatment for the 0–5 cm soil depth after 2nd year of cropping. Application of crop residue mulch significantly increased the TOC concentration by 14.9% at 0–5 cm soil depth compared to the no mulch treatment. Crop residue mulch also significantly increased carbon stratification ratio (SR) by 9.2% compared to no mulch treatment for the same depth. Nitrogen application at 150 kg/ha significantly increased TOC concentration at 0–5 cm soil depth by 22.2% and 7.8% over control and 75 kg/ha, respectively. Water stable aggregate associated carbon concentration in large macro-aggregates and micro-aggregates increased significantly by 16.7% and 11.8%, respectively due to crop residue mulching. Application of crop residue mulch resulted in significant increase in labile and non-labile pools of carbon at 0–5 cm soil depth compared to the no mulch treatment, and among the labile pools of carbon, the maximum increase was recorded in very labile (VL) pools. The Carbon Lability Index (CLI) decreased whereas Carbon Pool Index (CPI) and Carbon Management Index (CMI) increased due to irrigation and crop residue mulch application. Application of 75 kg N/ha resulted in significantly higher CMI than that of 150 kg N/ha at 0–5 and 5–15 cm soil depth. So maize may be grown under irrigated condition with wheat residue mulch at a rate of 10 Mg/ha and 75 kg N/ha to achieve higher total organic carbon pool and labile pools of carbon, better Carbon Management Index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a need to characterize the water stress in wheat using suitable indices, which will help us to find out the water stress sensitive period for efficient use of irrigation water. Recently indices based on canopy spectral reflectance, which are non destructive, fast and reliable, are being used effectively to characterize the water stress. A field experiment was carried out during the year 2010–2012 in split plot design with four levels of irrigation (irrigation at 0.4 IW/CPE, 0.6 IW/CPE, 0.8 IW/CPE and 1.0 IW/CPE, IW = 6 cm) as main plot factors and three sources of nitrogen (100% N from urea, 50% N from urea and 50% N from farmyard manure (FYM) and 100% N from FYM) as subplot factors. The objective of the study was to find out the water stress indices best correlated with wheat grain and biomass yield, to determine the optimum growth stage for measurement of water stress indices and to predict the grain and biomass yield of wheat based on water stress indices. The canopy reflectance was measured in the spectral range of 350–2500 nm with 1 nm bandwidth with the help of hand held ASD FieldSpec Spectroradiometer at seven phenostages, viz. , crown root initiation (CRI), tillering, booting, flowering, milk, soft dough and harvesting stage. Then different water stress indices were computed as: water index (WI) = R 970 / R 900 , normalized water index-1 (NWI-1) = ( R 970 − R 900 )/( R 970 + R 900 ), normalized water index-2 (NWI-2) = ( R 970 − R 850 )/(R 970 + R 850 ), normalized water index-3 (NWI-3) = ( R 970 − R 920 )/( R 970 + R 920 ), normalized water index-4 (NWI-4) = ( R 970 − R 880 )/( R 970 + R 880 ), where R and the subscript numbers indicate the light reflectance at the specific wavelength (in nm). It was observed that spectral reflectance based water indices recorded at the milk stage, WI and NWI-1 were significantly negatively correlated with the grain yield and NWI-1 and NWI-3 were significantly negatively correlated with the biomass yield of wheat, having maximum correlation coefficients. Validation of regression model based on NWI-1 could account for the maximum 87.5% variation in the observed grain yield and the regression model based on WI could account for maximum 89.2% variation in the observed biomass yield of wheat with minimum root mean square errors. So the regression models based on NWI-1 and WI recorded at milk stage can be successfully used to predict the grain and biomass yield of wheat in advance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In Vertisols of central India erratic rainfall and prevalence of drought during crop growth, low infiltration rates and the consequent ponding of water at the surface during the critical growth stages are suggested as possible reasons responsible for poor yields (<1tha−1) of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). Ameliorative tillage practices particularly deep tillage (subsoiling with chisel plough) can improve the water storage of soil by facilitating infiltration, which may help in minimizing water stress in this type of soil. In a 3-year field experiment (2000–2002) carried out in a Vertisol during wet seasons at Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India, we determined infiltration rate, root length and mass densities, water use efficiency and productivity of rainfed soybean under three tillage treatments consisting of conventional tillage (two tillage by sweep cultivator for topsoil tillage) (S1), conventional tillage+subsoiling in alternate years using chisel plough (S2), and conventional tillage+subsoiling in every year (S3) as main plot. The subplot consisted of three nutrient treatments, viz., 0% NPK (N0), 100% NPK (N1) and 100% NPK+farmyard manure (FYM) at 4tha−1 (N2). S3 registered a significantly lower soil penetration resistance by 22%, 28% and 20%, respectively, at the 17.5, 24.5 and 31.5cm depths over S1 and the corresponding decrease over S2 were 17%, 19% and 13%, respectively. Bulk density after 15 days of tillage operation was significantly low in subsurface (15–30cm depth) in S3 (1.39mgm−3) followed by S2 (1.41mgm−3) and S1 (1.58mgm−3). Root length density (RLD) and root mass density (RMD) of soybean at 0–15cm soil depth were greater following subsoiling in every year. S3 recorded significantly greater RLD (1.04cmcm−3) over S2 (0.92cmcm−3) and S1 (0.65cmcm−3) at 15–30cm depth under this study. The basic infiltration rate was greater after subsoiling in every year (5.65cmh−1) in relation to conventional tillage (1.84cmh−1). Similar trend was also observed in water storage characteristics (0–90cm depth) of the soil profile. The faster infiltration rate and water storage of the profile facilitated higher grain yield and enhanced water use efficiency for soybean under subsoiling than conventional tillage. S3 registered significantly higher water use efficiency (17kgha−1 cm−1) over S2 (16kgha−1 cm−1) and S1 (14kgha−1 cm−1). On an average subsoiling recorded 20% higher grain yield of soybean over conventional tillage but the yield did not vary significantly due to S3 and S2. Combined application of 100% NPK and 4t farmyard manure (FYM) ha−1 in N2 resulted in a larger RLD, RMD, grain yield and water use efficiency than N1 or the control (N0). N2 registered significantly higher yield of soybean (1517kgha−1) over purely inorganic (N1) (1392kgha−1) and control (N0) (898kgha−1). The study indicated that in Vertisols, enhanced productivity of soybean can be achieved by subsoiling in alternate years and integrated with the use of 100% NPK (30kg N, 26kg P and 25kg K) and 4t FYM ha−1. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The frequency, size and rate of development of cracks influence the transport of water, nutrients and gases in the soil profile and plant growth processes in Vertisols. Despite their importance, studies on characterising cracks in Vertisols of India are limited. This study attempts to evaluate the influence of different tillage practices, nutrient management and cropping systems on cracking behaviour of a Vertisol in central India. The length, depth, width, area and volume of cracks were recorded after the harvest of the wet season crops, i.e. soybean (Glycine max L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.) from three ongoing tillage experiments with three different cropping systems, i.e. soybean–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), soybean–linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) and rice–wheat. The results revealed that all the crack parameters were significantly negatively correlated with the water content of the 0–15 cm soil layer and, crack width and crack volume were significantly positively correlated with the bulk density of the 0–15 cm soil layer. Gravimetric water content and bulk density of the 0–15 cm soil layer together explained 79% variation in the crack volume. The crack volume was significantly negatively correlated (r=0.86,P=0.01) with the root length density of the previous soybean crop. Rice grown under puddled condition significantly enhanced different crack parameters viz., length, depth, width, surface area and volume of the cracks over nonpuddled direct seeded rice. Sub-soiling practised in soybean under the soybean–linseed system significantly reduced the width, depth, length and surface area of cracks by 12.5, 10, 5 and 12%, respectively, over conventional tillage. No tillage practised in soybean under soybean–wheat system resulted in significant increase in width, depth and volume of the cracks but decrease in length and surface area of cracks over conventional tillage and mould board tillage practice. Application of manure reduced the magnitude of different crack parameters in soybean–linseed cropping system. Thus cracking in Vertisols can be favourably managed by the selection of proper tillage practice, cropping system and organic manure amendments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Water resources such as rivers and oceans an indispensable resource for the living. The present investigation was carried out for biodegradation of industrial effluent by using bacterial isolates immobilized in PDMS sponges. Bacterial isolates DP4 Bacillus and DP7 Stenotrophomonas (black cotton soil of Maharashtra, India) was performed to degrade the industrial spentwash. In first experiment, effluent was added to the nutrient broth (NB) inoculated with DP4 and DP7 strains in different flasks containing PDMS sponges. DP4 strain degraded 84% of melanoidin as compared to DP7 strain, which degraded 50% melanoidin in 6 days. In second experiment, both bacterial strains were inoculated in (i) NB media (ii) immobilized in PDMS sponges, inoculated in NB media and the effluent was added. Degradation of melanoidin was determined at intervals of 24h using spectrophotometer (OD 520nm). Immobilized cells degraded melanoidin better than free cells and Bacillus DP4 showed a higher degradation rate as compared to Stenotrophomonas DP7. • Immobilized bacterial isolates were used to degrade melanoidins from spent wash. • Biodegradation efficiency of free and immobilized cells were compared. • Melanoidin degradation was improved using 'repeated addition' strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Intercropping system of cereals with legume is common in semi-arid tropics of India. However, little attention has been paid to assessing nutrient competition in the system. Seasonal changes in relative dry matter yield (RDY), relative nitrogen yield (RNY), relative phosphorus yield (RPY) and relative potassium yield (RKY) are useful indices to estimate the N, P and K status in intercropping system. The competitive effect of soybean (Glycine max L.) in association with sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) was assessed using these indices under six nutrient treatments (0, 75% NPK, 100% NPK, 75% NPK+5Mg farmyard manure, 75% NPK+5Mg phosphocompost and 75% NPK+1.5Mg poultry manure) from a 5-year field experiment conducted in a N and P deficient Vertisol of Central India. The RDY and RNY of sorghum were greater than the values of RDY and RNY of soybean indicating inter-species competition for N between component crops, peak competition being at 80 days after sowing (DAS). Using the concept of RDY and RNY, it was observed that having coincided the maturity period and peak demand for N of both the crops, soil N was exhausted by sorghum because of its strong competitive ability and N was liming for soybean at 80 DAS. Strong competitive ability of sorghum was also evident from higher biomass, root mass, root length density and contribution to the mixture yield. Once sorghum entered its maturity phase, its competitive effect on soybean was greatly reduced. Competition for P between two species is more prominent up to 60 DAS and P was not limiting to none of the species after 60 DAS as the RPY values were equal to corresponding RDY values. Based on RKY value, none of the component species suffered from K deficiency at any stage even if it was not applied. This implied that competition exists for soil N and P but not for K up to 60–80 DAS in soybean/sorghum intercropping system. The result showed that competition between two crops measured in terms of RNY, RPY and RKY under organic-fertilizer was less; however, recorded higher soybean equivalent yield and monetary advantage index than inorganic-fertilizer. The study thus suggests that in soybean/sorghum intercropping system to minimize competition between two crops in N and P deficient Vertisol, application of 75% NPK+FYM/poultry manure/phosphocompost is a viable nutrient management option. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Distillery effluent, a foul smelling, dark coloured by-product of distillery industries, is usually applied as irrigation water or as an amendment to arable land in some areas which are in the vicinity of the distillery industries. A field experiment on soybean–wheat system was conducted for 3 consecutive years in a Vertisol of central India to evaluate the effect of distillery effluent (DE) as an amendment on soil properties and crop productivity. The treatments were control (no fertilizer or manure or DE, T1), 100% NPK+FYM @ 4Mgha−1 to soybean (T2) and four graded levels of DE, viz.: 2.5cm DE to soybean and wheat on residual nutrition (T3), 2.5cm DE to soybean and 1.25cm to wheat (T4), 5cm DE to soybean and wheat on residual nutrition (T5), 5cm DE to soybean and 2.5cm to wheat (T6). The organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon and electrical conductivity (EC) of the surface (0–10cm) soil increased significantly with application of DE compared to T1 and T2, but the soil pH was not affected. The EC increased from 0.47dSm−1 and 0.58dSm−1, respectively, in T1 and T2 to 1.52dSm−1 in T6, where highest dose of DE was applied. This indicated a slight build-up of salinity with DE application. The application of DE showed a significant improvement in the physical properties of the soil. The mean weight diameter (MWD), saturated hydraulic conductivity, water retention at field capacity and available water content were significantly (P <0.05) higher, while bulk density (BD) and penetration resistance of the surface soil were significantly lower (P <0.05) in all DE treated plots except in T3 than those in T1 and T2. The fractions of WSA of more than 1mm diameter in T6, T5 and T4 were, respectively, 141%, 107% and 116% more than the control. The MWD showed a positive linear relationship with the organic carbon (r =0.84**) and microbial biomass carbon (r =0.90**) of the soil. A significant (P <0.01) negative linear relationship (r =0.70**) was found between soil organic carbon and BD. Except T3, all the DE treated plots recorded significantly higher total and microporosity of the soil than control. Water retention at permanent wilting point and macroporosity of the soil were not affected by treatment. The seed yield of soybean in all the DE treatments was similar with T2 (1.86Mgha−1) but significantly more than control (1.28Mgha−1). The DE application levels have not affected the seed yield of soybean. In wheat highest grain yield was recorded in T2 (3.47Mgha−1), which was similar with T4 (3.16Mgha−1), T5 (3.22Mgha−1) and T6 (3.46Mgha−1). DE application up to T4 level was found suitable from productivity, salinity and sustainability point of view. The study showed that judicious application of DE as an amendment to the agricultural field could be considered as a viable option for safe disposal of this industrial waste. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In Vertisols of the semi-arid tropics lack of optimum soil water and low soil temperature (<18°C) during germination, and high soil temperature (>37°C) during pod development stage has been a major barrier to realizing yield potential of summer groundnut. Seven field experiments (comparing straw with polythene, 50μm gauge mulch, duration of retention of polythene mulch, testing the combined effect of straw and polythene mulch, N management in straw mulch and field demonstration) were carried out from 1992 to 1999 in a sequence to identify a suitable mulch material, which was socially and economically acceptable and could overcome soil water and soil temperature related problems for summer groundnut. In general, straw mulch (wheat or paddy) produced more pod (17–24%) and haulm yields (16%) of groundnut than polythene mulch (black or transparent) and no mulch because of favourable soil water and soil temperature, earlier seedling emergences, more flower and mature pods numbers, lower bulk density and less weeds. We observed that groundnut plants showed N deficiency under wheat straw mulch at the early stage (up to 60 days after sowing). However, towards maturity N deficiency occurred at the early stage had no significant negative impact on pod yield of groundnut because the plants recovered N deficiency and had greater chlorophyll content and pod yield. This is presumed to be associated with bio-availability of macro and micronutrient during decomposition of organic mulch. The pod yield of groundnut under black polythene was higher than under transparent polythene. The polythene mulch increased soil temperature by 4–5°C through out the crop growth (germination to maturity), which increased seeding emergence but was detrimental to pod setting and pod development (soil temperature exceeded 40°C). Thus, the benefit of polythene was only observed when it was retained up to podding stage, but not up to harvest. The combined application of wheat straw and black polythene out-yielded sole application of wheat straw mulch but the former was 45% less profitable than the later one because of the cost of polythene. Wheat straw mulch was finally demonstrated to the farmer''s field. It was found that sacrificing 5t wheat straw as cattle feed, farmers on return get additional 0.47tha−1 legume fodder due to mulching which is nutritionally superior quality fodder in terms of crude protein, phosphorus content, crude fiber, ash and silica content compared to wheat straw as cattle feed. Thus, 16% additional production of highly nutritive groundnut haulm due to mulching has a significant implication on (i) nutritional fodder security, especially during the dry season when green fodder is costly and its availability is limited, and (ii) additional income of Rs. 3935ha−1 from mulch. These two considerations, apart from solving temperature related problems convinced 32 farmers of Vadhvi and Zanjarda village of Junagadh district, Gujarat for adoption of wheat straw technology for summer groundnut in about 50ha areas. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Opinions differ on the necessity of deep tillage for sustaining crop productivity in the rainfed Vertisols of the semi-arid tropics of central India. We conducted a field experiment for 3 years (2000–2002) with a factorial combination of three cropping systems (sole soybean, sole pigeonpea and soybean/pigeonpea intercropping in 2:1 row ratio) and three tillage practices (conventional, conventional+subsoiling in alternate years and conventional+subsoiling every year). Objectives were (i) to examine the effect of subsoiling Vertisols on sustaining yield of soybean/pigeon pea intercropping, and (ii) to assess the frequency of subsoiling for realizing maximum yield and profit. Though there was a reduction in growth and yield of intercrops, higher soybean equivalent yield (SEY) and area-time equivalent ratio (ATER) value in soybean/pigeonpea intercropping system as compared to sole soybean had a yield advantage. The average yield advantage in intercropping system was 60% higher than that from sole soybean. The yield advantage of intercropping system in terms of ATER was 7% greater with subsoiling than conventional tillage. The yield response to subsoiling was consistent over the period and on an average, subsoiling increased yield by 20%. The effect was associated with improved water storage and root length density. However, with respect to energy use efficiency and profit, the effect of subsoiling was comparable to conventional tillage. The variation in net return and benefit:cost ratio in subsoiling every year and subsoiling in alternate years in sole soybean and soybean/pigeonpea intercropping was not significant. However, in sole pigeon pea subsoiling every year out-yielded subsoiling in alternate years. The interactive effect of subsoiling and intercropping increased the yield by 21–25%. Thus, under rainfed cropping where drought of unpredictable intensity and duration is a prevailing feature, soybean/pigeon pea intercropping could be a promising option, especially when combined with subsoiling in alternate years. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Low native nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) coupled with imbalanced nutrient application is a major constraint limiting productivity of intercropping systems on Vertisols of the semi-arid tropical India. In a 3-year field experiment competition behaviour of component crops for nutrients use in soybean/pigeonpea intercropping system was assessed based on relative yield (RY), relative nitrogen yield (RNY) and relative phosphorus yield (RPY) under three nutrient levels (0 NPK, 100% NPK (N:P:K=30:26:25kgha−1) and 100% NPK+4t FYMha−1). The result showed that before soybean harvest, the RY and RNY of soybean were greater (1.0) than the corresponding values of RY and RNY of pigeon pea (0.6). This implied that competition exists for soil N between the component crops during the first half of the cropping system. It was observed that soybean harvest did not coincide with peak flowering of pigeonpea, the stage when biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) was maximum. Thus, BNF dependency of pigeonpea was low before soybean harvest and the plants suffered from N deficiency more when no fertilizer-N was applied and diminished at a high-N level. Pigeon pea attained its peak flowering after the harvest of soybean and increased its dependency on BNF when soil N was exhausted by soybean. Thus, after the harvest of soybean, RY and RNY of pigeon pea gradually increased and approached 1.0 at maturity at all nutrient levels. The RPY values showed that phosphorus was not the limiting factor to any of the crop in the system even if it was not applied. The study thus suggests that in the soybean/pigeonpea intercropping system, N is a limiting factor for growth of pigeonpea intercrop during the first half of its growth and application of 100% NPK (30kg N)+4t FYM could meet N demand of pigeonpea in N deficient soils as this nutrient management option gave higher yield, root length density and profit under soybean/pigeonpea intercropping system than 100% NPK and control. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A field experiment was conducted on a deep Vertisol of Bhopal, India to compare root and shoot biomass, chlorophyll content, enzyme activity and nodulation in three cropping systems at three combinations of organic manure and inorganic-fertilizer: 75%NPK + 5 t farmyard manure (FYM), 75%NPK + 1.5 t poultry manure (PM), and 75%NPK + 5 t phosphocompost (PC) vis-a-vis 0%, 75% and 100% of fertilizer-NPK. In general, nodule number and its mass were lower in intercrop soybean than sole soybean. Also there was decrease in the nodule number with higher NPK dose. The FYM treated plots recorded 22.0% and 7.6% higher nodule mass than poultry manure and phosphocompost plots, respectively. Also, the total chlorophyll content was higher in organically treated plots than that in 100% NPK particularly at 30 days after sowing (DAS, pre-flowering). In sorghum the peak nitrate reductase (NR) activity was recorded at 60 DAS while in soybean it was at 30 DAS. The NR activity was higher in intercrop sorghum than that in sole sorghum. Maximum NR activity was observed in 100% NPK. Soybean/sorghum intercropping system recorded significantly higher root and shoot biomass than sole soybean and sorghum. The crop growth rates were relatively rapid during 30–60 DAS and followed the order; intercropping > sole sorghum > sole soybean. With the increase in NPK dose from 0% to 100% there was significant improvement in the dry matter (DM) production in sole sorghum and soybean/sorghum intercropping system. Soybean as preceding crop recorded the highest DM, chlorophyll content, NR activity in wheat while these values were the lowest in sorghum–wheat system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A field experiment was conducted on deep vertisols of Bhopal, India to evaluate the manural potential of three organic manures: farmyard manure (FYM), poultry manure (PM), phosphocompost (PC) vis-a-vis 0%, 75% and 100% recommended dose of fertilizer-NPK and to find out the most productive cropping system at various combinations of organic manures and chemical fertilizers. The seed yield of intercrop soybean (population converted to 100%) was 8.7% less than sole soybean whereas the grain yield of intercrop sorghum was 9.5% more than that of sole sorghum. However, the productivity in terms of soybean equivalent yield (SEY) was relatively high in intercropping system. The increasing NPK dose from 0% to 100% significantly improved SEY in sole sorghum and soybean/sorghum intercropping system and the integrated use of organics and inorganics recorded significantly more SEY than inorganics. The effect of nutrient management followed the order; 75% NPK + 5 t FYM ha-1 > 75% NPK + 1.5 t PM ha-1 > 75% NPK + 5 t PC ha-1 > 100% NPK. Sorghum, both as sole and intercrop, responded more to PM while soybean to FYM. Application of 75% NPK in combination with PM or FYM or PC to preceding rainy season crops (soybean and sorghum) and 75% NPK to wheat produced significantly higher grain yield of wheat than those in inorganics and control indicating noticeable residual effect on the succeeding wheat crop and saving of 25% fertilizer-NPK. The effect of PC on rainy season crops was not as prominent as those of FYM and PM, but its residual effect on grain yield of wheat was comparable to those two organic manures. Among the cropping systems, soybean as preceding crop recorded the highest seed yield of wheat and was on a par with that of soybean/sorghum intercropping system. The yield of wheat following sorghum was the lowest. The total system productivity (TSP) was the highest in sorghum + soybean–wheat system and the lowest in the soybean–wheat system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) of India is dominated with rice − wheat cropping system that occupies almost 10.5 million ha area. The sustainability of rice-wheat system is under threat due to numerous water-, nutrients-, weeds- and environment-related problems, mainly, due to the cultivation of rice. Suitable crop and soil management practices with a bias to conservation agriculture (CA) that can sustain soil and environmental health as well as improve crop and water productivity, are required for the Indian IGP. Maize can be a viable alternative to rice and a potential driver for diversification of rice-wheat system. The acreage of maize is on the increase in conventional and conservation agriculture-based cereal systems of India in recent years. Therefore, a field experiment, involving a maize ( Zea mays L.)-wheat cropping system was undertaken on a sandy clay loam soil for three years (2010–11 to 2012-13) in New Delhi to evaluate the impacts of CA on crop and water productivity, profitability and soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation. There were five CA-based treatments in first year, and two treatments were introduced in second year (2011-12) onwards. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. In all the residue retention plots, wheat residue was retained in maize crop and maize residue was retained in wheat crop under zero till conditions. Results showed that the plots under permanent broad bed with residue (PBB + R) and without residue (PBB) resulted in ∼29 and ∼26% higher maize grain yield, respectively than conventional tillage (CT) (2.6 t ha −1 ), but wheat grain yields were comparable in all the treatments in first year. Maize grain yield in second year under PBB + R and zero tillage with residue (ZT + R) were 55 and 43% higher than CT plots (2.8 t ha −1 ). Three-year mean maize yields due to PBB + R and permanent narrow bed with residue (PNB + R) were 28 and 15% higher than that in CT plots (3.3 t ha −1 ). The PBB + R resulted in 11% higher two-year mean water productivity in maize than PBB (∼without residue), but both these treatments were comparable in this regard in wheat. The ZT + R plots resulted in 14% and 22% higher two-year mean water productivity, respectively in maize and wheat than ZT plots. Overall, the plots under PBB + R had 57% and 19% higher mean water productivities in maize and wheat, respectively compared with CT plots. Again, the PBB + R plots gave 12% higher two-year mean net returns compared with CT plots. With regard to net returns, the plots under permanent narrow bed with and without residue (PNB + R; PNB) were inferior to PBB, PBB + R, ZT and ZT + R plots. Retention of both-season crop residues could significantly improve SOC concentration in surface (0–5 cm) soil. The PBB + R resulted in highest SOC pool at 0–30 cm soil layer, which was significantly higher than that in CT. This system showed maximum carbon sequestration potential. Thus, this CA practice, which involves PBB + R is superior to other practice. This would save water through higher water-use efficiency, and lead to accumulation of more carbon in soil with higher sequestration potential, besides giving sustainable production through maize-wheat system over the years. This can be adopted across the IGP regions of India, where irrigated rice-wheat system is in practice, and in similar agro-ecologies of the tropics and sub-tropics under irrigated conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Optimization of date of sowing and cultivars of Indian mustard was done for enhancing productivity. [•] We attempted to compute radiation and water use efficiency of Indian mustard under varied crop growth environments. [•] We developed evapo-transpiration production function and radiation production function for Indian mustard. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Permanent broad-bed (PBB) planting effects on cotton–wheat system was evaluated. [•] Plots with PBB with residue had 3.1Mg higher wheat equivalent yield/ha/year than CT. [•] The PBB+residue (R) plots had 48% more mean system water productivity than CT. [•] The PBB+R plots had 36 and 13% more income than CT and permanent narrow-bed (PNB). [•] The PBB+R plots had higher mean water productivity than PNB+R, ZT and ZT+R plots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A field experiment was conducted on a Vertisol for three consecutive years (1998–2000) to study the effects of combined use of inorganic fertilizer (NPK) and organic manure (farmyard manure) on soil physical properties, water-use efficiency, root growth and yield of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in a soybean–mustard cropping system. Application of 10Mg farmyard manure and recommended NPK (NPK+FYM) to soybean for three consecutive years improved the organic carbon content of the surface (0–15cm) soil from an initial value of 4.4gkg−1 to 6.2gkg−1 and also increased seed yield and water-use efficiency by 103% and 76%, respectively, over the control. The surface (0–15cm) soil of the plots receiving both farmyard manure and recommended NPK had larger mean weight diameter (0.50mm) and a higher percentage of water stable aggregates (55%) than both the inorganically fertilized (NPK) (0.44mm and 49%) and unfertilized control plots (0.41mm and 45.4%). The saturated hydraulic conductivity (13.32×10−6 ms−1) of the NPK+FYM treatment of the 0–7.5cm depth was also significantly greater than that of the NPK (10.53×10−6 ms−1) and control (8.61×10−6 ms−1) treatments. The lowest bulk density (1.18Mgm−3) in the 0–7.5cm layer was recorded in NPK+FYM whereas it was highest in the control plots (1.30Mgm−3). However, at sub-surface (22.5–30cm) layer, fertilizer and manure application had little effect on bulk density and saturated hydraulic conductivity. Root length density (RLD) up to the 30cm depth was highest in the NPK+FYM plots and it was 31.9% and 70.5% more than NPK and control plots. The RLD showed a significant and negative correlation (r =−0.88∗∗) with the penetration resistance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A field experiment was conducted at the Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal, India to study the effect of combinations of amount of irrigation water and nutrient applications on crop growth, evapotranspiration (ET), yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of Indian mustard on a heavy clay soil in central India. Three irrigation regimes, viz. 60mm pre-sowing and no post-sowing irrigation (I60), 60mm pre-sowing plus 60mm post-sowing irrigation at flowering (I120), and 60mm pre-sowing plus 60mm post-sowing irrigation at rosette and at flowering stage (I180); and three nutrient application treatments, viz. no fertilizer/manure (F0), 100% NPK, i.e., total N, P and K rates of 60, 13.1 and 16.6kgha−1, respectively (F100) and 100% NPK plus 10Mgha−1 farmyard manure (F100M10) were tested in a split-plot design. The experiment was conducted for three consecutive seasons. The results revealed that treatment combinations of I180 ×F100M10, I120 ×F100M10 and I180 ×F100 maintained significantly greater leaf area index (LAI), above-ground dry matter (DM), ET, seed and biomass yield of the crop than other combinations. The duration of a LAI of ≥2.5 was more in F100 and F100M10 than in F0. Under I120, LAI remained ≥2.5 for 8 and 22 days in F100 and F100M10, respectively. This leaf area duration increased to 28 and 39 days in the corresponding nutrient treatments under I180. The root length, mass and volume densities were significantly higher in I180 than I120 and I60, and in F100M10 than F100 and F0. For a particular irrigation regime, ET increased significantly in F100 and F100M10 compared to F0. The maximum seed yield of 1736kgha−1 was recorded in I180 ×F100M10; and the seed yields under I120 ×F100M10 (1440kgha−1) and I180 ×F100 (1431kgha−1) did not vary significantly. The WUEseed and WUEbiomass decreased with the increase in amount of irrigation water. On the contrary, these WUE parameters increased in F100 and F100M10 compared to F0. The regression relationships of root length density on ET, and yield (both seed and biomass yield) on ET could be described by linear. Thus, I180 ×F100M10 is the best combination; and as the crop response to I120 ×F100M10 and I180 ×F100 was similar, this study concludes that application of organic manure along with 100% NPK fertilizers could reduce the need for one post-sowing irrigation without compromising the yield of this crop under deficit irrigation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The study examines the energy requirement and energy input–output relationship of soybean-based crop production systems viz., soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), soybean–mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Czern & Coss.) and soybean–chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in central India. Using a pre-tested questionnaire, 135 farmers were selected through a multi-stage stratified random sampling technique. Results revealed that manures and chemical fertilizers (50.87%), seedbed preparation (18.30%) and sowing management (17.69%) consumed the bulk of the energy (operational and non-operational) for all crops, it was highest in soybean–wheat (23705±29.48 MJ ha−1) and the lowest in soybean–chickpea (15672±26.29 MJ ha−1). Wheat, with the highest grain productivity, produced the most biomass energy (78541±28.75 MJ ha−1) and highest grain-energy productivity (0.150 kg MJ−1). The total bioenergy output of the crop production systems followed the order: soybean–wheat (131277±29.26 MJ ha−1) > soybean–mustard (101661±28.91 MJ ha−1) > soybean–chickpea (92658±28.87 MJ ha−1). But this order was reversed for energy-use efficiency (EUE): soybean–chickpea (5.91)> soybean–mustard (5.86)> soybean–wheat (5.54). Specific energy was highest in soybean (9173 MJ t−1 grain) followed by mustard (8912 MJ t−1 seed), chickpea (7190 MJ t−1 grain) and wheat (6646 MJ t−1 grain) indicating that soybean is the most energy-investment intensive crop. Regarding energy intensiveness the results were contrary to EUE. Energy intensiveness (MJ Rs−1) was higher in wheat (1.40) followed by mustard (1.11), soybean (0.89) and chickpea (0.87) and the soybean–wheat system (1.13) emerged as the most energy-intensive system compared to soybean–mustard (0.97) and soybean–chickpea (0.88). Though the net return from soybean–wheat was marginally higher than other systems, the soybean–chickpea system is more suitable in the central ecological niche of India due to its low requirement for non-renewable resources, higher EUE and benefit–cost ratio. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study focuses on the use of synthetic and low cost carbon sources for enhanced biomass and lipid production from oleaginous yeast strains using batch and fed batch fermentation. Five strains were selected out of 20 strains which were all isolated from various habitats, on the basis of lipid accumulating potential using Sudan B black dye. The selected isolates were characterized and their lipid production was optimized by batch cultivation in waste extract. Gas chromatography analysis revealed that lipids from all isolated yeast strains contained mainly long-chain fatty acids such as oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid and linoleic acid. On the basis of lipid profile and production, two most suitable oleaginous yeast strains were selected for further experiments, i.e. fed batch fermentation using glucose (control) and sugarcane molasses as feed. Using glucose as feed, 38.8 ± 0.9 g/L and 29.4 ± 0.2 g/L biomass dry cell weight (DCW) and total lipids were produced respectively, whereas with sugarcane molasses feed, 50 ± 1 g/L (DCW) biomass and 39.2 ± 0.6 g/L lipids were produced by Rhodosporidium toruloides ATCC204091. After transesterification the lipid profile was analyzed by GC–MS revealing suitability for use as a potential feedstock for biodiesel production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]