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Rice is the most important crop in India and additionally the hub of food security of the worldwide population. Integrated application of manures and fertilizers played a pivotal role for improvement of soil physico-chemical properties under different cropping systems as well as nutrient accumulation and grain yield in rice. The present investigation was conducted in sandy loam soil at Agronomy Research Farm of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India during 2018–2019 having sub-humid climate. Field experiment was designed to evaluate the effect of two date of transplanting, which were allotted to main plots and three combinations of nutrient management options allotted for sub plots on rice crop (var. Naveen). Among all the plant parts, leaf showed higher accumulation of nitrogen (3.69, 1.92%), stem showed higher accumulation of both phosphorus (0.43, 0.35%) and potassium (2.59, 2.09%) than other plant parts during vegetative stages, while panicle showed higher accumulation of nitrogen (1.22%), phosphorus (0.28%) during harvesting stages of the rice crop. Significantly higher nitrogen accumulation in different plant parts were optimized under Soil Test Based Fertilizer Recommendation (STBFR) + Green Manure (GM; Sesbania rostrata) (0.99, 0.46, 1.28%) method of nutrient management, while phosphorus (0.10, 0.11, 0.28%) and potassium (1.00, 1.64, 0.33%) accumulation were found to be significantly higher in different plant parts under STBFR + Farm Yard Manure (FYM) method of nutrient management. Thus, early transplanting and application of STBFR + GM/FYM could be recommended for higher nutrient accumulation in rice crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mung bean is recognized for its abundant high-quality protein content. For human consumption, it is a high-quality protein source and also serves various purposes crops, its harvested residue is used for green manuring and also used for fodder purposes. The research aimed to assess the impact of foliar micronutrient application on primed mung bean (Vigna radiata). The experimental procedures were executed in the sandy loam soil prevalent in the central plain region of Punjab. The investigation was conducted during the Zaid season 2022, focusing on the (SML-1827) mung bean variety. Specifically, the research assessed the impact of foliar micronutrient applications involving zinc and boron at 15 and 45 days after sowing (DAS) on primed mung bean growth characteristics. The experimental design employed a Randomized Block Design, incorporating 11 distinct treatment combinations, each replicated thrice. The investigation revealed that foliar micronutrient treatment on primed mung bean substantially influenced growth and yield parameters. Growth indicators for mung bean exhibited a positive trend when zinc and boron were jointly applied to primed seeds with gibberellic acid, followed by a decline in the control group, which experienced typical growth conditions devoid of growth regulators and micronutrients. Specifically, the highest recorded plant height was 70.1 cm in the T9 (GA(50 mg.L-1) + ZnSO4 (0.5%) + B (1%)) treatment, while the lowest height was 58 cm in the T0 (control) treatment. Similarly, the most significant fresh weight was observed in T9 (GA (50 mg.L-1) + ZnSO4 (0.5%)+ B (1%)) treatments at 136.8 g, with the lowest weight recorded in T0 (control) treatments at 86.6g. the most significant grain yield was achieved in T9 112 g.m-2, followed by T10 (SA(150 mg.L-1)+ ZnSO4 (0.5%)+B (1%)) at 105.7 g.m-2. This study suggests micronutrients and growth regulators can be sustainable agricultural inputs to enhance soil health and productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green manuring is the process by which vegetative crops are incorporated into the soil, and it plays a good substitutable role in reducing chemical fertilizer applications while enhancing soil fertility. Field experiments were conducted at Lingao City of Hainan Province in 2020 and 2021, to evaluate the effects of in situ incorporation of different green manures (fallow (as control), rice, sesbania, and stylosanthes) on soil physical and chemical properties, nitrogen (N) uptake, grain yield, and the grain anthocyanin content in colored rice. Treatments included colored rice cultivated with previous fallow (T0), with previous rice straw manure (T1), with previous sesbania manure (T2), and with previous stylosanthes manure (T3). The seedlings of the colored rice variety Suixiangheinuo were transplanted 23 days after the incorporation of green manure. Our results indicated that both the grain yield and grain anthocyanin content of colored rice were significantly increased when green manure was incorporated into the soil compared to that of the control. Therein, grain yields of T1, T2, and T3 were increased by an average of 12.7%, 29.0%, and 24.5%, respectively, across 2 years in comparison with those of T0. And grain anthocyanin content in colored rice under T1, T2, and T3 was increased by 7.2%–7.5%, 13.9%–24.2%, and 9.8%–20.6%, respectively. In addition, in situ incorporation of leguminous green manure in the soil significantly increased soil fertility and partial factor productivity for N fertilizer. The above results suggested that colored rice crops should be followed in rotation with leguminous green manure, which was beneficial to increasing both grain yield and grain anthocyanin content of colored rice. This research elucidated that the incorporation of leguminous green manure sustained the production of colored rice in tropical regions, which was beneficial to reconcile the relationship between rice production and environmental protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) an important and commonly grown kharif pulse crop in India for vegetable, grain, forage and green manuring. Considering the adverse effects of chemical fertilizers, bio-inoculants should be encouraged as natural nutrient source. Methods: Three indigenous bio-inoculants viz., Rhizobium sp., Bacillus megaterium and Glomus mosseae were evaluated in a field experiment which was conducted during kharif season 2020 to study the influence of bioinoculants on growth and yield of cowpea. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design (RCBD) with ten treatments replicated thrice. Result: The application of microbial consortia significantly influenced the number of pods bearing branches, number of nodules, fresh weight of nodules, chlorophyll content, plant nitrogen and phosphorus content and microbial activities in the cowpea rhizosphere. The present study concluded that combined application of bio-inoculants (Rhizobium, PSB, AM fungi) can save 25 per cent of recommended dose of fertilizer by sustaining the crop yield and improving the soil health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of oilseed rape (OS, Brassica napus L.) as a winter green manure is crucial for enhancing soil fertility and reducing chemical N application in paddy fields. However, the impacts of replacing varying amounts of chemical N with OS on CH4 and N2O emissions in paddy soils have not been well evaluated. In this study, GHG emissions, soil properties and OS decomposition in a rice-ratooning system with different OS-urea N replacement rates (0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%) were investigated. Our results indicate that 84.7–90.7% of the initial C and 97.5–98.4% of the N were released during the 192-day decomposition process, and that the mineralization patterns of net C and net N in the OS residue were consistent with a single exponential decay model. The lowest CH4 emissions (9.97 g m−2) were observed at 0% OS, while the highest N2O emissions (0.40 g m−2) were observed at this level of substitution. Conversely, the highest CH4 emissions (20.71 g m−2) and lowest N2O emissions (0.07 g m−2) were observed at 100% OS. Compared to 0% substitution, 25% substitution significantly decreased GWP and GHGI without reducing rice grain yield. Environmental parameters such as soil redox, NH4+-N and residual N and C were shown to be significantly associated with CH4 emissions, whereas soil redox, NH4+-N and residual C were the main drivers of N2O emissions. In conclusion, 25% substitution of OS was the most cost-effective measure for balancing greenhouse gas emission and rice yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Punjab, Pakistan, wheat production within the rice-wheat cropping system is frequently undermined by soil degradation and nutrient depletion, exacerbated by traditional agricultural practices. Addressing these challenges, this study evaluates the impact of green manuring and tillage practices on wheat productivity in rice-wheat cropping system, using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. The study examined twelve treatments combining green manuring (no green manuring, Sesbania, or Cluster bean) with rice cultivation methods (direct-seeded or transplanted) and tillage practices (zero or plough tillage). Wheat was sown following rice at a rate of 125 kg ha-1, with fertilizers applied in split applications. The analysis revealed significant differences across treatments. The highest number of fertile tillers (429 m-2 in 2020, 441 m2 in 2021) was recorded in Treatment 5 (Sesbania green manuring, direct-seeded rice, zero tillage wheat), while the lowest (322 m-2 in 2020, 329 m-2 in 2021) was in Treatment 4 (No green manuring, transplanted rice, plough tillage wheat). Similar trends were observed for spikelets per spike, grains per spike, and thousand grain weight, with Treatment 5 consistently performing the best. Biological yield was highest in Treatment 5 (13.12 t ha-1 in 2020, 13.42 t ha-1 in 2021), and grain yield peaked at 4.10 t ha-1 (2020) and 4.50 t ha-1 (2021) in Treatments 5 and 6. These findings underscore the benefits of integrating Sesbania green manuring with zero tillage and direct seeding of rice, significantly enhancing soil moisture retention and structure, which leads to improved wheat yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Green manuring exhibits strong positive effects on soil fertility and crop yield, while its effects on agro-ecosystem multifunctionality (agro-EMF) and the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Methods: Based on a 7-year potato cropping field experiment, we conducted a holistic survey of soil and rhizosphere microbiomes, plant performance (i.e. yield and disease resistance) and soil functions, and assessed agro-EMF under conventional chemical potassium (K) fertilization and green manure (GM) amendment practices. Results: We demonstrated that GM application significantly promoted agro-EMF compared to chemical K fertilizer, as indicated by improved crop yield (5.8%-20.6%), reduction in potato late blight incidence (2.8%-46.2%), and increased soil nutrient contents. GM amendment drastically altered microbial community composition, especially in the rhizosphere. Intriguingly, agro-EMF was primarily predicted by microbial community composition, rather than microbial diversity, with a higher agro-EMF variation explained by the rhizosphere microbiome. In comparison to chemical K fertilizer, GM treatments greatly improved the complexity (58.5%-125.8%) and stability (8.2%-21.5%) of the microbial inter-kingdom network. Correspondingly, GM amendment significantly enriched keystone taxa, including the bacterial taxa Xanthomonadaceae, Rhizobiaceae and Sphingobacteriaceae, the fungal taxon Chaetomiaceae and the protistan taxon Cercozoa in the rhizosphere, of which are closely associated with soil nutrient cycling, plant growth promotion, and disease resistance. Conclusion: Taken together, our study revealed that green manuring greatly promoted agro-EMF via coordinating soil nutrient cycling, rhizosphere microbiome and microbial network interactions for greater crop yield, disease resistance and soil functions. This study provides critical information on the mechanisms of ecosystem functions maintenance in agro-ecosystems and presents a basis towards developing conservation farming practices for agricultural sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of green manure can substantially increase the microbial diversity and multifunctionality of soil. Green manuring practices are becoming popular for tobacco production in China. However, the influence of different green manures in tobacco fields has not yet been clarified. Here, smooth vetch (SV), hairy vetch (HV), broad bean (BB), common vetch (CV), rapeseed (RS), and radish (RD) were selected as green manures to investigate their impact on soil multifunctionality and evaluate their effects on enhancing soil quality for tobacco cultivation in southwest China. The biomass of tobacco was highest in the SV treatment. Soil pH declined, and soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content in CV and BB and activity of extracellular enzymes in SV and CV treatments were higher than those in other treatments. Fungal diversity declined in SV and CV but did not affect soil multifunctionality, indicating that bacterial communities contributed more to soil multifunctionality than fungal communities. The abundance of Firmicutes, Rhizobiales, and Micrococcales in SV and CV treatments increased and was negatively correlated with soil pH but positively correlated with soil multifunctionality, suggesting that the decrease in soil pH contributed to increases in the abundance of functional bacteria. In the bacteria–fungi co-occurrence network, the relative abundance of key ecological modules negatively correlated with soil multifunctionality and was low in SV, CV, BB, and RS treatments, and this was associated with reductions in soil pH and increases in the content of SOM and nitrate nitrogen (NO3−-N). Overall, we found that SV and CV are more beneficial for soil multifunctionality, and this was driven by the decrease in soil pH and the increase in SOM, TN, NO3−-N, and C- and N-cycling functional bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In agricultural systems, significant nitrogen (N) losses from traditional fertilizers pose risks to food security and economic stability. An emerging approach to mitigate these losses involves nanoparticles (NPs) coatings onto urea, aiming to enhance N availability and consequently boost crop yields. To explore the most effective and sustainable N management strategies, a field experiment was carried out in Basmati rice at the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India over 2020-2021 in a split-plot design, with two summer green manure (GM) types-Sesbania (G2) and cowpea (G3) and fallow in the main plot and six nitrogen fertilization (NF) modules, i.e., 0 kg N + 5 kg Zn ha-1 through bulk ZnO (N1), N through prilled urea (PU) (N2), N through PU + 5 kg Zn ha-1 through bulk ZnO (N3), 1% bulk ZnO-coated urea (1% BZnCU) (N4), 0.1% nano ZnOcoated urea (0.1% NZnCU) (N5) and 0.2% nano ZnO-coated urea (0.2% NZnCU) (N6) in subplots replicated three times. The objectives of the study was to identify the optimal GM crops and the most effective NF modules on enhancing plant height, dry biomass, grain yield, milling quality, and N, P, K nutrition, as well as nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). Our findings demonstrated that, a significant enhancement in plant height (13.34%) and dry biomass (38.1%) at harvest was observed with the combined application of G2 and N6 when juxtaposed against G1 and N1. The pooled analysis revealed that GM enhanced grain yield by 12.75% in comparison to G1, irrespective of the NF modules employed. The Sesbania was identified as the top-performing GM, registering a yield 17.5% greater than fallow while it was 8.13% for cowpea. Among NF modules, there was a noted 10.03% yield increase when urea was zinc-coated compared to using only urea (N2), and a 33.75% increase against the N1. The application of N6 modules boosted hulling, milling, and head rice recovery by 3.73, 4.45, and 4.98%, respectively, compared to N1. Moreover, combining zinc with urea raised the N content in milled rice by approximately 9.1% and heightened the N, P, and K concentration in the straw by 22.8, 4.44, and 11.8%, and total N, P, and K uptake by 5.72, 3.33, and 11.7%, in comparison to the combined effect of N1 and N2. Considering the NUE metrics, such as partial factor productivity (PFP), agronomic efficiency (AE), recovery efficiency (RE), and physiological efficiency (PE), the application of GM showcased superior performance in PFP and RE against the G1, while AE and PE remained unaffected. The G2 as a GM, performed best in PFP and RE. The N5 module delineated the most substantial advancements in NUE indices, despite being comparable to N6. In conclusion, the adoption of Sesbania as a green manure crops, coupled with the 0.2% nano ZnO-coated urea module, is identified as an efficient method for maximizing growth, yield, milling attributes, nutrient assimilation, and overall NUE in the Basmati rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a field experiment conducted in Assam to study the effect of organic nutrient management practices on the growth, yield, and pests incidence of scented rice in a rainfed situation. The study found that the combined application of different organic inputs significantly improved the growth, yield, and reduced pests incidence of scented rice. Organic farming was found to improve soil productivity and pest control, making it a sustainable option for rice cultivation. The study highlights the potential for Assam to become a main supplier of organic products, particularly scented rice, in the global market. [Extracted from the article]

This study shows the influence of soil salinity and irrigation dose on biomass production and its impact on some edaphic indicators and functions. For this purpose, an experiment was carried out in two representative soils from Murcia (SE Spain), one slightly saline (LS) and the other saline (S), where an oat–vetch green manure was intercalated between a spinach cycle and a coriander cycle; the latter being subjected to three different irrigation doses (deficient, optimum and surplus). Rapid response indicators (ECext, cations and anions in the soil solution, etc.) were monitored, as well as the material balances, in particular C and salts. Green manure and crop residues increased soil OC by 12.5% and reduced Na+ and NO3− concentrations. Total biomass production was also affected by salinity, both in oat–vetch, 35.9 and 31. 9 tm ha−1 in LS and S, respectively, and in the coriander crop, where the irrigation dose was decisive, obtaining around 29 tm ha−1 with the optimum and surplus doses and significantly lower amounts with the deficit dose: 20.4 tm ha−1 in LSD and 14. 0 in SD. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the irrigation doses, since deficit irrigation significantly reduces production and the surplus does not lead to an increase with respect to the optimum, while also causing ions to leach to depth horizons, as is the case for NO3−, Cl− and Na+, with the consequent risk of contaminating the water table. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chlorophyll is a green molecule found in plant cells that aids photosynthesis. It absorbs sunlight and converts the energy into carbohydrates using CO2 and water as a starting point. Chlorophyll 'a' and chlorophyll 'b' are the two forms of chlorophyll found in plants and each serves as a photoreceptor in photosynthesis, assuming higher electron transport, thus improving photochemical capacity. Methods: The present study was conducted at Banana Research Station, Kannara, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur, Kerala during 2017-2018 to elucidate the response of banana Musa (AAB) 'Nendran' in terms of growth, yield and quality to nutrient sources. Variation in leaf parameters, phyllochron and chlorophyll content in leaf tissue of banana raised with different nutrient sources was analysed. The amount of chlorophyll present in the leaves, is an indication of photosynthetic efficiency. Result: Highest Leaf Area Index (2.34) were recorded in T4 (integrated use of organic manures with biofertilzers practised). Highest amount of chlorophyll 'a' (1.20 mg), chlorophyll 'b' (1.62 mg), total chlorophyll (2.82 mg) and lowest phyllochron (7.33) were obtained in T8 (Fertigation with organic sources FYM @29 kg, lime @0.5 kg and wood ash @4 kg as basal; fertigation once in four days with 14 kg FYM till one month after bunch emergence,+ in situ green manuring) which was followed T3 (POP recommendation of KAU with organic manures FYM @15 kg + lime @0.5 kg as basal + Poultry manure @ 14 kg/plant + Wood ash @4 kg/plant applied in two splits i.e. one as basal and one 3 MAP + in situ green manuring) at 150 days after planting. The results indicated that the manuring Nendran banana with organic manures had advantage over chemical fertilizers in term of chlorophyll production and increase in photosynthetic efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study sought to determine the effects of different levels of concentrations of bio-stimulant solution (BSS) in inducing the growth, flower, and yield of mung bean. The study was conducted at UNO-R School of Agriculture, Philippines last February to April 2022. Pagasa 3 variety was used as planting material. The study was laid out in RCBD) with four treatments and replicated 4 times. The BSS was diluted in water and applied 6 inches from the base of the plant as per research protocol. Statistical analysis revealed highly significant differences among treatments in growth parameters such as plant height and leaf area index (LAI) at 35DAS. Likewise, there was high significant difference among treatments on the days to 50% flowering of the plant. Furthermore, results showed highly significant differences among treatments in the number of pods per plant, pod weight per plant, number of seeds per pod, 100 seed weight, and yield of mung bean. For the highest plant height, LAI, and period of flowering they were obtained from plants applied with 150ml BSS, followed by 100ml BSS, and 50ml BSS. On the other hand, untreated plants have the shortest height, narrower leaves, and late in flower initiation. Mung bean pods per plant were great in number, heavier in weight from plants treated with 150ml BSS among the other treatments, the most number of seeds per pod, and the heaviest per 100-seed weight as well as the highest seed yield per hectare. This study recommends the use of 150ml BSS in inducing the growth and higher yield of mung bean plant production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to determine the soil organic carbon (SOC) stock change factor for green manure crops that was developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Tier 2 method and compare this with the net global warming potential (GWP) index that is used to evaluate the contribution of green manuring to global warming. Four treatments were barley (Hordeum vulgare L.; B), hairy vetch (Vicia villosa R.; HV), a barley/hairy vetch mixture (BHV) and a conventional treatment (C). The aboveground biomass of green manure crops was incorporated into the soil on 25 May 2018, 26 April 2019, 29 April 2020, 30 April 2021 and 2 May 2022. Maize (Zea mays L.) was transplanted as the subsequent crop after the incorporation of green manures. SOC stock decreased with green manures, even though carbon input with green manures, including B, HV and BHV, was greater than that with C. The mean value of the SOC stock change factor for green manure crops, including B, HV and BHV was 0.627 and was significantly lower than that of the C. However, the net GWP also decreased with the incorporation of green manure crops, and the mean value of the relative net GWP index across B, HV and BHV was 0.853. These conflicting results were caused by different estimation methods between annual SOC change (△SOC) and net GWP. The estimation of SOC stock change using △SOC suggested by the IPCC method may overestimate the contribution of green manure crops to global warming. The net GWP method with comprehensive input and output of carbon in the soil system could provide a better understanding of the carbon balance in soil systems. In the current study, the comparison of △SOC and net GWP was conducted for at one site of upland soil for 5 years. Therefore, further research on estimating the effect of green manure crops on net GWP in various types of soil for longer years should be conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green manuring is an established strategy for soil nutrient enrichment; however, its effects on the soil microbiome remain unclear. In this study, we assessed the impact of green manuring on soil microbial diversity, functional profiles, and enzymatic activities in a pot experiment involving tobacco rotation with three types of green manure: smooth vetch, ryegrass, and radish. Our data revealed distinct temporal shifts in bacterial communities under diverse tillage while fungi communities showed obvious clustering between fallow and green manuring. Moreover, green manure-sensitive bacterial and fungal taxa constitute a greater proportion of total sequences than their fallow-sensitive counterparts, indicating a more pronounced influence of green manuring on microbial communities. Functionally, green manuring augmented the relative abundance of N-cycle-related genes and was strongly associated with elevated N-acetyl-glucosaminidase activity. Notably, a subset of green manure-sensitive microbes exhibited significant antagonistic interactions with the fungal pathogens Fusarium spp. and Fusarium solani, and synergistic interactions with the beneficial bacteria Pseudomonas spp. Collectively, these findings suggest that green manuring promotes an optimized soil environment characterized by efficient nutrient cycling and diminished pathogenicity, thereby providing a scientific basis for targeted microbiota manipulation in agricultural systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Intercropping of two leguminous species at three planting densities and rainfed coconut trees was evaluated for green manuring in sub-humid region. We hypothesize that Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth. (M. caesalpiniifolia), native to the semi-arid region, would show better performance when compared to the exotic Gliricidia sepium Jacq. (G. sepium) at low planting density. Methods: A field experiment was conducted in Ceará, Brazil, in randomized blocks and 2 × 3 + 1 factorial scheme with four replicates. Treatments consisted of the two leguminous species at low, medium and high planting densities, in addition to a control. Two pruning cycles were carried out, followed by leguminous biomass deposition over the soil. Nutrients accumulated in pruning biomass and added to the soil, coconut trees nutritional status, fruit weight, and economic indicators were determined. Results: In the second pruning cycle M. caesalpiniifolia was surpassed by G. sepium, which accumulated in its biomass 673.0, 77.0, 428.1, 68.3 and 37.2 kg ha−1 of N, P, K and Ca, respectively at medium density. This resulted in higher soil contents of K and Ca (0.34 and 1.58 cmolc kg−1, respectively) at medium and high densities. Regardless of planting density, both leguminous species, compared to the control, increased the leaf N content in coconut trees by 2.2 g kg−1 and led to the highest Mg content (1.8 g kg−1). The total nutrients accumulated in G. sepium at high density resulted in higher financial value (5,074.6 US$ ha−1). Conclusion: G. sepium at high planting density has better performance than M. caesalpiniifolia for intercropping system with rainfed coconut in sandy soil of sub-humid region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In agricultural systems, significant nitrogen (N) losses from traditional fertilizers pose risks to food security and economic stability. An emerging approach to mitigate these losses involves nanoparticles (NPs) coatings onto urea, aiming to enhance N availability and consequently boost crop yields. To explore the most effective and sustainable N management strategies, a field experiment was carried out in Basmati rice at the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India over 2020–2021 in a split-plot design, with two summer green manure (GM) types-Sesbania (G2) and cowpea (G3) and fallow in the main plot and six nitrogen fertilization (NF) modules, i.e., 0 kg N + 5 kg Zn ha−1 through bulk ZnO (N1), N through prilled urea (PU) (N2), N through PU + 5 kg Zn ha−1 through bulk ZnO (N3), 1% bulk ZnO-coated urea (1% BZnCU) (N4), 0.1% nano ZnO-coated urea (0.1% NZnCU) (N5) and 0.2% nano ZnO-coated urea (0.2% NZnCU) (N6) in subplots replicated three times. The objectives of the study was to identify the optimal GM crops and the most effective NF modules on enhancing plant height, dry biomass, grain yield, milling quality, and N, P, K nutrition, as well as nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). Our findings demonstrated that, a significant enhancement in plant height (13.34%) and dry biomass (38.1%) at harvest was observed with the combined application of G2 and N6 when juxtaposed against G1 and N1. The pooled analysis revealed that GM enhanced grain yield by 12.75% in comparison to G1, irrespective of the NF modules employed. The Sesbania was identified as the top-performing GM, registering a yield 17.5% greater than fallow while it was 8.13% for cowpea. Among NF modules, there was a noted 10.03% yield increase when urea was zinc-coated compared to using only urea (N2), and a 33.75% increase against the N1. The application of N6 modules boosted hulling, milling, and head rice recovery by 3.73, 4.45, and 4.98%, respectively, compared to N1. Moreover, combining zinc with urea raised the N content in milled rice by approximately 9.1% and heightened the N, P, and K concentration in the straw by 22.8, 4.44, and 11.8%, and total N, P, and K uptake by 5.72, 3.33, and 11.7%, in comparison to the combined effect of N1 and N2. Considering the NUE metrics, such as partial factor productivity (PFP), agronomic efficiency (AE), recovery efficiency (RE), and physiological efficiency (PE), the application of GM showcased superior performance in PFP and RE against the G1, while AE and PE remained unaffected. The G2 as a GM, performed best in PFP and RE. The N5 module delineated the most substantial advancements in NUE indices, despite being comparable to N6. In conclusion, the adoption of Sesbania as a green manure crops, coupled with the 0.2% nano ZnO-coated urea module, is identified as an efficient method for maximizing growth, yield, milling attributes, nutrient assimilation, and overall NUE in the Basmati rice.

The impact of integrated nutrient management seems crucial for the sustainability of crop production as revealed by studies on long-term experiments. It provided the opportunity to monitor long-term variations in crop yields and associated factors. The impacts of various nutrient management strategies on yields and soil attributes in a rice-wheat system have been researched under a long-term experiment that has been running since 1983 at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. Further, a positive correlation has been observed between crop yields and soil properties such as soil organic carbon (SOC), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and zinc (Zn). The negative correlation with K could be attributed to soil becoming deficient in K and necessitating the application of potassium fertilizer. The treatments receiving organic manures (green manure, farmyard manure and wheat cut straw) showed a better population of soil microorganisms in comparison to the treatments receiving chemical fertilizers, thereby proving as precursors of sustaining soil health. The best soil characteristics (water-soluble aggregates, exchangeable and non-exchangeable K, fixed and total K) after rice and wheat harvesting were found where 50 % of the recommended NPK was supplemented with farmyard manure (FYM). The build-up of trace elements particularly for Fe and Zn was also noticed. In crystalline Fe oxide bound fraction (CFeOX), Fe increased between 717.1 and 984.8 mg kg−1, while Zn increased between 2.64 and 3.08 mg kg−1. Furthermore, amorphous iron oxide (AFeOX), CFeOX, carbonate (CARB), organic matter (OM) bound and exchangeable (EXCH) Fe and Zn were higher in treatments where organic manures were supplemented with 50 and 25 % N. Farmyard manure showed an incremental trend, followed by wheat cut straw and green manure (GM). The incremental trend in soil quality was noticed with FYM followed by wheat cut straw and GM.

During the summer and rainy seasons (April-October) of 2020 and 2021, two consecutive field experiments were conducted at the research farm of the ICARIndian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India. In this study, we examined the effects of summer green manuring crops (GM) and a variety of zinc fertilizers (ZnF) on Basmati rice (Oryza sativa L.) growth, physiological development, yield response, zinc nutrition and economic returns. A combination of GM residues and nano zinc fertilization helped significantly enhancing Basmati rice’s growth and its physiological development. Following the incorporation of Sesbania aculeata (Sesbania), successive Basmati rice physiological parameters were significantly improved, as well as grain, straw, biological yields, harvest index and economic returns. The highest Zn content of 15.1 mg kg-1 and the lowest of 11.8 mg kg -1 in milled rice grain were recorded in Sesbania green manuring (G2) and control i.e., in the fallow (G1), respectively. Coating onto urea with 0.2% nano zinc oxide (NZnCU) was observed to be more effective than other zinc sources in terms of growth parameters, yield attributes, zinc nutrition, grain and straw yields for succeeding Basmati rice crop; however, the effects were comparable to those of bulk zinc oxide-coated urea (BZnCU) of 1%. The highest Zn content of 15.1 mg kg -1 was recorded with the application of 1% BZnCU and the lowest of 11.96 mg kg -1 with the soil application of 5 kg Zn ha -1 through bulk ZnO in the milled rice grain. Application of 1% BZnCU led to a 26.25% increase in Zn content of milled rice grain compared to soil application of 5 kg Zn ha -1 through bulk ZnO. As a result, the combination of inclusion of Sesbania aculeata (Sesbania) residue and 0.2% NZnCU was identified as the most effective treatment, for Basmati rice growth and physiological development. A combination of nano Zn fertilization in conjunction with the incorporation of green manure can be advocated for better growth, physiological performance, zinc dense grains, and higher profitability of Basmati rice for farmers and consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the Indo-Gangetic Plain, rice–wheat is the most extensively practiced crop rotation. The escalating issue of crop residue burning, particularly rice straw, and the necessity to lower the exorbitant expenses associated with fertilizer inputs stand out as significant challenges for farmers in the region. A well-suited integrated nutrient management (INM) strategy that focuses on recycling crop residues can serve as a solution to address these issues. Such a strategy not only mitigates air pollution resulting from residue burning but also helps combat water pollution due to nitrate losses from agroecosystems. Field experiments were used to evaluate the suitability of eight INM-modules that included various combinations of inorganic fertilizer rates (50%, 100%, 150% of recommended dose), crop residues (wheat and rice stubble retention at 30 cm standing stubble equivalent to 1/3 the straw yield), rice straw compost (RSC), farmyard manure (FYM), and green manuring (GM), compared to 100% recommended dose of fertilizers (F) and no fertilizer application. Results: There was a considerable improvement in nitrogen mineralization, grain yields, and nitrogen use efficiency under GM + RSC-F50 and GM + FYM-F50. These INM modules would permit a 50% reduction in the use of chemical fertilizers. There was a little yield penalty with in situ rice residue incorporation at 100% F; however, this could be overcome with 150% F fertilizer application. In situ retention of wheat straw with a full application of fertilizer resulted in steadily rising crop yields over time. Changes in the redox potential, soil pH, and soil organic carbon best accounted for the observed trajectories in nitrogen use efficiency. Conclusion: The most promising INM modules for adoption by farmers in the Indo-Gangetic Plain to judiciously use crop residues and curtail chemical fertilizer inputs are green manuring with Sesbania aculeata + rice straw compost at 5 t ha−1 + only 50% of recommended dose of fertilizers (GM + RSC-F50), and green manuring with Sesbania aculeata + farmyard manure at 5 t ha−1 + only 50% of recommended dose of fertilizers (GM + FYM-F50). Sole incorporation of crop residues without nitrogen augmentation from other sources might not help curtail chemical fertilizer use. Composting rice straw, which otherwise is widely burnt, proved a useful nitrogen source and a vital component of INM. Waste rice straw composting at the community scale and its application as a nutrient source can help achieve sustainable nitrogen management in the agroecosystems of Indo-Gangetic Plain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nutrient management in resource conservation practices influence the structural and functional microbial diversities and thereby affect biological processes and biochemical properties in soil. We studied the long-term effects of resource conservation technologies on functional microbial diversity and their interactions with soil biochemical properties and enzymatic activities in tropical rice-green gram cropping system. The experiment includes seven treatments viz., conventional practice (CC), brown manuring (BM), green manuring (GM), wet direct drum sowing, zero tillage, green manuring-customized leaf colour chart based-N application (GM-CLCC-N) and biochar (BC) application. The result of the present study revealed that microbial biomass nitrogen (N), carbon (C) and phosphorus (P) in GM practice were increased by 23.3, 37.7 and 35.1%, respectively than CC. GM, BM and GM-CLCC-N treatments provide higher yields than conventional practice. The average well color development value, Shannon index and McIntosh index were significantly higher by 26.6%, 86.9% and 29.2% in GM as compared to control treatment. So, from this study we can conclude that resource conservation practices like GM, GM-CLCC N and BM in combination with chemical fertilizers provide easily decomposable carbon source to support the microbial growth. Moreover, dominance of microbial activity in biomass amended treatments (GM, GM-CLCC N and BM) indicated that these treatments could supply good amount of labile C sources on real time basis for microbial growth that may protect the stable C fraction in soil, hence could support higher yield and soil organic carbon build-up in long run under rice-green gram soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents various techniques for plant nutrition in the ancient world, namely ancient Rome. It discusses the attempts of Roman farmers to ameliorate their soil by ways of spreading manure, green manuring, and applying mineral fertilizers and other materials thought of as improving the soil. The relevant information is taken mainly from Roman literary texts that pose their own difficulties to the reader being, above all, highly stylized products of art rather than practical handbooks. Such information can nevertheless be contrasted with recent observations on the effectiveness of these methods. It is shown that ancient knowledge contributed considerably to developing a remarkably successful—if somewhat flawed with respect to scientific details—strategy of improving annual yields and thus supporting the Roman urban culture and demographic stability, with a general level of nutrition reached in Europe and North America only after World War II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation was carried out in Mandya, Mysore and Chamarajnagara districts of Karnataka state. One hundred eighty farmers who are practicing rice and sugarcane based farming system were included in the study. Totally 180 respondents were randomly selected from Maddur and Mandya taluks of Mandya district, Nanjanagudu and T. Narasipura taluks of Mysore district and Kollegala and Yelandur taluks of Chamarajanagar districts for the present investigation. Results revealed that nearly half (43.33%) of the respondents had not adopted carbon sequestration technologies in rice based farming system and 42.22 per cent of the respondents had moderately adopted carbon sequestration technologies in sugarcane based farming system. The study also indicated that among the fifteen technologies 'Green manuring and 'Application of FYM' have got higher mean adoption score of 2.00 and 1.98, on the other hand technologies like organic farming and 'Site Specific Nutrient Management in rice farming' were least adopted with mean adoption score of 1.13 and 1.0 in rice farming. Results of the study interpreted those technologies viz., 'Vermicomposting', 'Application of FYM' and 'Green manuring' which were highly ranked with 1.96 and 1.94 mean adoption score respectively and contrary to this 'Site Specific Nutrient Management sugarcane farming', practicing 'Agro-Forestry' and 'Organic Farming' had got lower mean adoption score of 1.18, 1.27 and 1.34, respectively [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Grassland biotope of the Botany Department, Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, Bharat was closely monitored to study the diversity of heterocystous cyanobacterium genus Nostoc and their observations were recorded during last three years (July 2020 to June 2023). Cyanobacteria containing soil were collected from the Grassland Biotope and their enrichment cultures were raised, and morphological observations were recorded. All species of Nostoc have been identified upto the species level with the help of available monographs. Total eleven species of Nostoc viz. N. cycadeae, N. paludosum, N. microscopicum, N. shensiense, N. calcicola, N. sphaericum, N. ellipsosporum, N. linckia, N. verrucosum, N. gelatinosum and N. pruniforme have been identified. On the basis of observations, it is concluded that Grassland biotope is one of the most suitable habitats which facilitate the growth of Nostoc species and the fertility of the soil of Grassland biotope is maintained year after year by their occurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The addition of rice waste and dhaincha (Sesbania) green manure boosted plant development and considerably raised the wheat crop's grain yield, straw yield, biological yield, and harvest index. During the early years of the trial, residue assimilation had no discernible impact on wheat yield. However, with the treatment residue incorporation rather as residue burning and residue removal, a considerably greater grain yield, straw yield, biological yield, and harvest index was noted during the second year. However, during the second year of the trial, it was discovered that treatment standing stubble was statistically comparable to treatment residue removal and residue burning. Higher straw yield was achieved by the incorporation of residue, which may have been caused by improvements in organic matter, soil fertility, and the physical and biological health of the soil. Crop residue incorporation and green manuring also increased the increased monetary return and B: C ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing different cultivars for a specific region is a crucial step to identify suitable varieties that can thrive in the local climate. While a variety may exhibit distinct traits in a particular area, its performance and ability to maintain those characteristics may vary when cultivated in different locations. Additionally, the timing of planting also plays a vital role in determining crop production outcomes. Therefore, standardization of planting time is very important to get a good growth and excellent quality of cut flowers. By using staggered planting, the flowering period may also be extended for fetching a good price during different occasions. Therefore, the present investigation was conducted at Agri-tourism Centre, CCSHAU, Hisar (Haryana) during 2021-2022 to study the effect of planting time on growth and flowering of LA hybrid lily varieties under greenhouse. The investigation comprised four LA hybrid lily varieties along with four planting time (1st fortnight of October, 2nd fortnight of October, 1st fortnight of November and 2nd fortnight of November) and observations were recorded for various vegetative parameters. Out of the four-planting time, the varieties planted during 1st fortnight of October performed better resulting in terms of maximum plant height, number of leaves, leaf length, leaf width etc. Among the varieties, Litouween performed overall best with respect to highest sprouting, plant height, leaf length, leaf width, stem lengthstem diameter etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Soil potassium (K) content in the swell-shrink soils of Central India has been decreasing in recent decades due to higher inputs of N and P fertilizers concomitant with lower or no inputs of K fertilizers. Therefore, nutrient management to mitigate the negative K budget is urgently required. Therefore, we aimed to exploit the abundance of K in gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium) to substitute the fertilizer K requirement to improve soil quality and sustain cotton productivity. Results indicated a significant (p < 0.05) improvement in soil physical properties and organic carbon under treatment 100% NP + 10 kg K (inorganic) + 20 kg K (gliricidia) (T4). The same treatment had 18.2 and 11.4, 36.22 and 4.7, and 17.8 and 9% higher content of available N, P, and K compared to the control and 100% RDF, respectively. Available micronutrients and biological properties were significantly higher under treatment T4 and 100% NP + 15 kg K (inorganic) + 15 kg K (gliricidia) (T3). Hydraulic conductivity, organic carbon, and microbial biomass carbon were identified as key SQ indicators for the experimental soil. The treatments T3 and T4 had about 105 and 122% more seed cotton yield compared to the control and 17 and 27% more than 100% RDF treatment (T2). We conclude that gliricidia can be efficiently utilized in the nutrient management packages to partially substitute the fertilizer K requirement of rainfed cotton. This will further address the K depletion and nutrient imbalances and help to restore the soil K in shrink-swell soils of Central India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The postharvest quality and coloration of radish roots can be compromised by factors such as the type of cropping system and fertilization management. Therefore, the objective of this work was to estimate the postharvest quality indices and color parameters of radish roots in monocropping, as a function of different roostertree (Calotropis procera) biomass amounts, in two cropping seasons in a semi-arid environment. The experimental design used was randomized complete blocks with five treatments and five replications. The treatments consisted of different roostertree biomass amounts: 16, 29, 42, 55 and 68 t ha-1 on a dry basis, incorporated into the soil. In each block, two additional treatments were added, one without fertilization (control) and the other with mineral fertilizer, for comparison purposes with the maximum efficiency treatment. The radish cultivar planted was Crimson Gigante. The radish characteristics evaluated were: pH, soluble solids content (SS), titratable acidity (TA), SS/TA ratio, total soluble sugar content (TSS), vitamin C (CV) and anthocyanin (A) contents, and roots color parameters (L*, C* and h°). The maximum flavor efficiency (SS/TA) and the total soluble sugar content (TSS) were achieved with the incorporation into the soil of 47.24 and 25.27 t ha-1 roostertree biomass, respectively. Higher concentrations of bioactive compounds (CV and A) were obtained when incorporating 35.79 and 45.85 t ha-1 green manure biomass. The color parameters values (L*, C* and h°) in the red radish roots were achieved in the biomass amounts of 40.39, 53.14 and 52.71 t ha-1 of roostertree.

During the summer and rainy seasons (April-October) of 2020 and 2021, two consecutive field experiments were conducted at the research farm of the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India. In this study, we examined the effects of summer green manuring crops (GM) and a variety of zinc fertilizers (ZnF) on Basmati rice (Oryza sativa L.) growth, physiological development, yield response, zinc nutrition and economic returns. A combination of GM residues and nano zinc fertilization helped significantly enhancing Basmati rice’s growth and its physiological development. Following the incorporation of Sesbania aculeata (Sesbania), successive Basmati rice physiological parameters were significantly improved, as well as grain, straw, biological yields, harvest index and economic returns. The highest Zn content of 15.1 mg kg -1 and the lowest of 11.8 mg kg -1 in milled rice grain were recorded in Sesbania green manuring (G2) and control i.e., in the fallow (G1), respectively. Coating onto urea with 0.2% nano zinc oxide (NZnCU) was observed to be more effective than other zinc sources in terms of growth parameters, yield attributes, zinc nutrition, grain and straw yields for succeeding Basmati rice crop; however, the effects were comparable to those of bulk zinc oxide-coated urea (BZnCU) of 1%. The highest Zn content of 15.1 mg kg -1 was recorded with the application of 1% BZnCU and the lowest of 11.96 mg kg -1 with the soil application of 5 kg Zn ha -1 through bulk ZnO in the milled rice grain. Application of 1% BZnCU led to a 26.25% increase in Zn content of milled rice grain compared to soil application of 5 kg Zn ha -1 through bulk ZnO. As a result, the combination of inclusion of Sesbania aculeata (Sesbania) residue and 0.2% NZnCU was identified as the most effective treatment, for Basmati rice growth and physiological development. A combination of nano Zn fertilization in conjunction with the incorporation of green manure can be advocated for better growth, physiological performance, zinc dense grains, and higher profitability of Basmati rice for farmers and consumers.

A field experiment was conducted during rabi seasons (December–March) of 2019–20 and 2020–21 to study the residual effect of nutrient management practices in lowland kharif rice varieties on succeeding black gram variety PU 31. The experiment was set in split plot design with four rice varieties in main plots (viz. CR 1009 sub-1, CR 1018, Pooja and Upahar) and six nutrient management practices in sub-plots [(viz. Control, 100% Recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF: 80-40-40 kg N, P2 O5, K2 O ha-1), 50% RDF+FYM (@ 8 t ha-1), 50% RDF+Sesbania green manuring (@ 1.5 t ha-1), Rice crop manager (115.5 -32.7-52.8- 25.0 kg N, P2 O5, K2 O, ZnSO4 ha-1+FYM @ 3 t ha-1) and Real time nitrogen management (RDF+customised leaf colour chart (CLCC)] and each treatment was replicated thrice. Among different nutrient management practices in rice, rice crop manager exhibited highest number of pods plant-1 (31.3), seeds pod-1 (7.8), 1000 seed weight (39.6 g), seed yield (877 kg ha-1), haulm yield (2512 kg ha-1), gross return (` 51352 ha-1), net return (` 38947 ha-1) and return `-1 invested (` 4.14) and highest uptake of N (78.83 kg ha-1), P (7.60 kg ha-1) and K (53.09 kg ha-1) in residual black gram. This was at par with 50% RDF+FYM @ 8 t ha-1 and significantly higher than all other nutrient managements in preceding rice. So, nutrient management as per rice crop manger and 50% RDF+8 t FYM ha-1 to the preceding rice crop had significant residual influence in achieving highest yield and economic returns from succeeding black gram in rice-black gram cropping sequence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A great challenge of scientific research with carrot in semi-arid regions is obtaining the best productive characteristics and economic conditions by optimizing the green manure amounts using spontaneous species from the Caatinga biome, such as hairy woodrose (Merremia aegyptia L.) and roostertree (Calotropis procera Ait.). Therefore, this work aimed to agronomically and economically optimize the production of carrot roots in monocropping and of their components when fertilized with equitable biomass amounts of these spontaneous species in two cropping seasons in a semi-arid environment. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design, with five treatments and five replications. The treatments consisted of equitable amounts of hairy woodrose and roostertree biomass in amounts of 16, 29, 42, 55, and 68 t ha1 on a dry basis. In each experiment, an additional carrot treatment without fertilizer (absolute control) was planted for comparison with the other treatments to determine maximum physical and economic efficiency. Carrot fertilization was performed with the incorporation of 48.87 t ha1 of M. aegyptia and C. procera dry biomass into the soil to obtain the maximum optimized productive efficiency (commercial productivity). The maximum optimized agroeconomic efficiency (net income) of carrot cultivation was obtained when 49.64 t ha1 of M. aegyptia and C. procera dry biomass was added to the soil. The use of biomass from these spontaneous species from the Caatinga biome as green manure is a viable technology for tuberose producers in monocropping in semiarid environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Caatinga is the property of Revista Caatinga and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A study was conducted in Karaipottanar sub-basin area of Namakkal district of Tamil Nadu in rice crop in 35.0 ha (25 demonstrations). The results showed that the adoption of alternate wetting and drying irrigation (AWDI) and green manure technique resulted in higher grain yield as compared to farmers' practice. The net return (Rs 39,208.30/ha) and B-C ratio (2.10) were observed in demonstration plots which were higher than farmers' practice (Rs 28,569.40/ha and 1.74 respectively). The water productivity was higher (5.14 kg/m³) in demonstration plots as compared to the control plots (3.37 kg/m³) and the average water saving was 26 per cent in demonstration plots. The green manure application resulted in increased available nutrients like organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content in the soil. From this study it was concluded that AWDI with field water tube was the better water management technique not only in increasing rice yield but also in saving water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Azolla (Azolla pinnata R. Br.) is an aquatic fern that supplies potassium (K) and other plant nutrients with their use and organic matter after decomposition in the soil to improve soil quality. Alluvial soils are deficient in available K due to intensive cropping systems, the use of high-yield varieties (HYVs), and improper fertilizer application. With high demand for K fertilizers and complete dependence on imports in India have affected its availability and cost. Azolla can be an alternative option for a source of K nutrients. Keeping this fact in view, the present study was formulated to understand the effect of K applied through Azolla and inorganic K fertilizer on the growth, yield, and storability of onion (Allium cepa L.). An incubation study was carried out to examine the K dynamics as influenced by levels and sources of K. Results showed that the use of Azolla along with mineral K fertilizer (NPK1/2 + K1/2 through mulching of Azolla and NP+ K1/2 through green manuring (GM) of Azolla + K1/2 through mulching of Azolla) has increased the water-soluble K (WS-K) and available K (Av-K) from 0 to 35 days of incubation (DI) and further decreased thereafter up to 105 DI. Azolla-based K application showed the availability of more K in the soil throughout the incubation period as compared to inorganic sources alone. The highest exchangeable K (Ex-K) was recorded in soil treated with Azolla similar to WS-K and Av-K. A field experiment was also conducted on the onion crop at the Bihar Agricultural College research farm, Sabour. The findings suggest that the maximum bulb weight (32.8 g bulb−1) and bulb yield (12.5 t ha−1) were recorded in the treatment NPK+ K1/2 through mulching of Azolla in two splits increased by 33% and 43%, respectively. Treatments applied with the full dose of recommended inorganic K alone resulted in 14% less bulb yield than the treatment combined with the full dose of recommended mineral K through inorganic fertilizer and half dose of recommended K supplied through Azolla mulching. The results also indicated that Azolla-based K application resulted in higher nutrient uptake, soil available nutrient status, and better storability in onion than conventional mineral K fertilization. Overall, the study concludes that Azolla may maintain K availability by increasing the amount of Ex-K and ensuring constant availability of the nutrient during the entire growth period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The improved crop varieties and inorganic fertilizers played a key role in bringing the revolutionary change from insufficient to surplus food grains production. In the era of self-reliant in food grains production, the noxious impacts of long-term sole application of inorganic fertilizers on natural resources are being observed critically and climate vagary and its threat to agriculture sector makes such studies of prime importance. The present study was undertaken with a hypothesis to substitute the inorganic N (either partial or fully) with farm yard manure (FYM) in at least one crop under rice-wheat system. The experiment was conducted in a two-factorial randomized complete block design with different levels of FYM (0, 10 and 30 t ha− 1) in each crop to study the yield, soil health, quality, profitability and sustainability with a comparison to recommended dose of conventional inorganic fertilizers (CIFs). In all treatments, green manuring was done through the incorporation of Sesbania aculeata (Willd.) Pers crop prior to rice translating. The results of pooled analysis of seven-year data (2013–2014 to 2019–2020) revealed that application of 30 t ha− 1 FYM produced statistically similar (p > 0.05) rice yield but with a decline of 19.21% in wheat yield as compared to CIFs. The continuous application of FYM @30 t ha− 1 increased organic carbon content of soil to 1.24% in the upper soil layer which was 74.6% higher than that under CIFs. The substitution of CIFs with FYM brought significant (p < 0.05) increase in available N, P and K in the top layer of the soil. The available N was significantly higher (p < 0.05) along with slight improvement (p > 0.05) in organic carbon in the top layer of the soil under control treatment associated with Sesbania aculeata (Willd.) Pers incorporation over CIFs. The application of 30 t ha− 1 FYM produced similar net return and wheat equivalent yield as with CIFs. However, benefit-cost (B:C) ratio in CIFs (2.16) was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those with FYM application (1.75–1.90) due to increase in transportation and labour cost in handling bulky FYM. The substitution of CIFs with FYM produced statistically similar sustainability value index (SVI) which indicates the similar stability of rice-wheat system and its sustainable nature as with CIFs. The results of present study suggest that CIFs can be substituted by green manuring + FYM application @30 t ha− 1 in rice crop under rice-wheat cropping system without any penalty on crop productivity and profitability while providing the multifarious benefits on soil health, which has been deteriorated through intensive cultivation of rice-wheat system, and overdosed and imbalanced inorganic fertilizers application in Indo Gangetic plains. Further, assured premium price of organic rice can escalate the adoption of such alternative fertilizers; however, high cost of FYM amidst declining cattle, increased transportation and labour cost in handling bulk volume of such fertilizers seems to be challenging factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a nutrient-exhausting crop, sustainable productivity of rice based cropping system can be achieved through appropriate nutrient management and crop diversification through incorporation of pulse into this system. Considering the above facts, a field experiment on rice-arhar system was conducted for two consecutive years (2018 and 2019) during kharif seasons at the Agronomy research Farm of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar having sub-humid climate with two date of planting, three nutrient management and three row spacing. Soil physico-chemical properties like N, soil organic carbon (SOC) was found higher with earlier planting, soil-test-based fertilizer Recommendation (STBFR) + Farmyard Manure (FYM) in rice and 30 cm row spacing in arhar. The system nutrient uptake of 219.76 kg N ha−1, 38.25 kg P ha−1 and 197.29 kg K ha−1 and microbial activities in terms of dehydrogenase activity (DHA) (241.9 mg TPF g−1 soil 24 hr−1), alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) (376.7 mg p-nitrophenol kg−1 soil 1 h−1), microbial biomass Carbon (MBC) (260.3 μg g−1 of dry soil), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) (93.7 μg N g−1 soil) was registered with earlier planting, STBFR + FYM in rice and 30 cm row spacing in arhar. Higher positive N and K balance over initial (actual balance) in rice-arhar cropping system was observed in the treatment fertilized with both organic and inorganic sources of nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern agriculture faces challenges such as loss of soil fertility fluctuating climatic factors and increase in pathogen and pest attacks. The sustainability and environmental safety in agriculture production needs eco-friendly approach like use of biofertilizers, bio pesticide and green manuring etc. The multiple beneficial effects of microbial inoculants apart of nitrogen fixation needs further research and their use in modern agriculture. This review summarises the effects of different asymbiotic bacteria on several aspects of crop. Inoculation with both the strains of Azospirillum brasilense I (201) and II (251) resulted in the increase in the number of Azospirillum in the rhizosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intercropping green manure (GM) may be a good solution to the problems of acid soil in tropical plantations. Soil organic nitrogen (No) may change due to the application of GM. A three-year field experiment was conducted to determine the effect of different utilization patterns of Stylosanthes guianensis GM on soil No fractions in a coconut plantation. Three treatments were set: no GM intercropping (CK), intercropping and mulching utilization pattern (MUP), and intercropping and green manuring utilization pattern (GMUP). The content dynamics of soil total N (TN) and soil No fractions including of non-hydrolysable N (NHNo) and hydrolyzable N (HN) in the cultivated soil layer was examined. The results showed that after three years of intercropping, the TN content of the MUP and GMUP treatment was 29.4% and 58.1% respectively higher (P < 0.05) than those of the initial soil, and the No fractions content of GMUP and MUP treatment was 15.1%-60.0% and 32.7%-111.0% higher (P < 0.05) than those of the initial soil. The further results indicated that after three years of intercropping, compared with CK, GMUP and MUP could increase the content of TN by 32.6% and 61.7% respectively, and No fractions content was also increased by 15.2%-67.3% and 32.3%-120.3%% respectively (P < 0.05). The No fractions content of GMUP treatment was 10.3%-36.0% higher than those of MUP treatment (P < 0.05). These results indicated that intercropping Stylosanthes guianensis GM could significantly increase the soil N including of the TN an No fractions content, and the GMUP was more effective than MUP, therefore, GMUP is a better GM utilization pattern to improve the soil fertility and should be popularized in the tropical fruit plantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted in a rice-based cropping scheme to investigate the impact of green manuring on soil health, considering soil physicochemical properties and sustainable crop production. A field experiment was started on 2 November 2015 and completed on 15 April 2018 under a rice–berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) cropping system in calcareous soil. Two green manuring patterns, rice–berseem and rice–wheat–sesbania (rostrata), were compared with a commonly practiced rice–wheat (Oryza sativa-Triticumaestivum) cropping pattern. Green manuring of the berseem crop (last cutting) along with 50, 75, and 100% of the recommended fertilizer doses of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) were compared with recommended NPK fertilization along with control (no fertilizer). The plant growth parameters of rice, including plant height, tillers per plant at maturity, and yield data, were recorded at harvest. The pre-sowing soil analysis revealed that the experimental soil was low in salts, and the nutrient (NPK) status was very low. The results indicated that green manuring substantially enhanced the grain and straw yield of rice crops. Green manuring combined with 75% of recommended NPK produced the highest grain yield (5.83 t ha−1 in year III) compared to the other treatments. The soil analysis showed that the bulk density was reduced while soil porosity, organic carbon, and N, K, and P contents were significantly improved. From the results of this study, it is recommended that under calcareous soil conditions, the regular use of green manuring can significantly improve crop growth, yield, and physicochemical properties of soil and, therefore, should be adopted by farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To ascertain the amount of nitrogen fixed and mineralization rate by green manure dhaincha were studied at Research Farm of Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari. The experiment consists of six dhaincha (Sesbania bispinosa) genotypes, NSB-6, NSB-7, NSB-9, NSB-13, CSD-123, and CSD-137, subjected to field incorporation and in vitro decomposition. The experimental treatment also includes sampling intervals for field incorporation 25, 25, 65, 85, 105, and 125 days after sowing and under in vitro decomposition 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 DAD (Days after decomposition). The differences in amount of soil nitrogen for dhaincha genotypes at different intervals are parallelly compared with mineralization rate of nitrogen under in vitro decomposition. The incorporation of dhaincha significantly increased the amount of soil available N up to 125 DAS (Days after sowing), ammoniacal nitrogen up to 85 DAS, and nitrate nitrogen up to 125 DAS. The straw under in vitro decomposition obtained significantly lower total N, total organic carbon, and cellulose following significant increase of nitrate nitrogen and ammoniacal nitrogen in leachates. First-order kinetics showed that NSB-9 with higher decomposition constant and lower half-life of total N (k = 0.00823 and DT50 = 84.20 days) and total organic carbon (k = 0.01009 and DT50 = 68.6 days). In conclusion, as a substitution of chemical fertilizers dhaincha incorporated nearly 3 months prior crop production to get maximum available nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying appropriate nutrient management options is crucial for reversing the yield plateau and enhancing the nutritional status of basmati rice under the basmati rice-wheat cropping system of the Indo Gangetic Plain (IGP). Alternative to the conventional chemical fertilizer, ZnO nanoparticles as carrier material for the micronutrient Zn has shown promise in reducing the bulkiness of fertilizer use in the soil–plant environment. But whether its integration and interaction with an organic source such as green manuring could enrich basmati rice grain with micronutrients and promote protein nutrition is not well investigated. Therefore, we conducted a field experiment during the summer and rainy seasons (April–October) of 2020 and 2021 at the research farm of the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi in a split-plot design with two summer green manuring (SGM) options (Sesbania and cowpea, along with fallow) as main plots and six fertilization strategies as subplots: 5 kg Zn ha−1 as bulk ZnO, N at 120 kg N ha−1 as prilled urea (PU), N at 120 kg N ha−1 as PU + 5 kg Zn ha−1 as bulk ZnO, 1% bulk ZnO-coated PU, 0.1% nano ZnO coated PU and 0.2% nano ZnO coated PU replicated thrice. On average, SGM increased basmati rice grain yield by 13.2 and 12.3% during 2020 and 2021, respectively compared to fallow. Integrated application of zinc with urea significantly (p Vigna unguiculata > summer fallow. Our findings revealed that with the application of 1% bulk ZnO coated PU with Sesbania; the yield response, micronutrient acquisition, and protein accumulation in milled rice was higher than in other plant fertilization methods. However, in plots treated with Sesbania, along with 0.2% nano ZnO-coated PU exhibited statistically equivalent yield and micronutrient loading in edible tissues. Hence, this study unveils the critical role of nano ZnO-coated urea and summer green manuring in elevating micronutrient and protein bioavailability in basmati rice and concurrently reducing Zn dose by 20%, making it a profitable option for farmers.

Planting a deep-rooted green manure (GM) (more than 1.0 m depth) greatly improves soil fertility and reduces the loss of nutrients. However, few studies have examined the response of soil nitrogen (N) distribution in the soil profile and subsoil N recovery to the long-term planting and incorporation of deep-rooted GM. Based on a 12-year (2009–2021) experiment of spring maize-winter GMs rotation in the North China Plain (NCP), this study investigated the effects of different GMs that were planted over the winter, including ryegrass (RrG, Lolium L.) (>1.0 m), Orychophragmus violaceus (OrV, Orychophragmus violaceus L.) (>0.8 m), and hairy vetch (VvR, Vicia villosa Roth.) (>1.0 m), on the spring maize yield, N distribution in the deep soil profile, N use efficiencies, functional gene abundances involving soil nitrification–denitrification processes and N2O production. Compared with the winter fallow, the maize yield significantly increased by 11.6% after 10 years of green manuring, and water storage in 0–200 cm soil profile significantly increased by 5.0–17.1% at maize seedling stage. The total N content in the soil layer at 0–90 cm increased by 15.8–19.7%, while the nitrate content in the deep soil layer (80–120 cm) decreased by 17.8–39.6%. Planting GM significantly increased the N recovery rate (10.4–32.7%) and fertilizer N partial productivity (4.6–13.3%). Additionally, the topsoil N functional genes (ammonia-oxidizing archaea amoA, ammonia-oxidizing bacterial amoA, nirS, nirK) significantly decreased without increasing N2O production potential. These results indicated that long-term planting of the deep-rooted GM effectively reduce the accumulation of nitrates in the deep soil and improve the crop yield and N use efficiencies, demonstrating a great value in green manuring to improve the fertility of the soil, increase the crop yield, and reduce the risk of N loss in NCP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]