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The coastal saline zone of West Bengal in India is the home to millions of the world's poorest and most vulnerable people. Due to a gradual increase in salt accumulation on soils of the coastal saline zone of West Bengal in India from winter to summer days, cultivation of the second crop in the winter season becomes possible in a limited area. To address these issues, field experiments was conducted in rainy and winter seasons of 2016–17 and 2017–18 at the farmer's field of the coastal saline zone (CSZ) of West Bengal, India. The experiment was carried out to study the system productivity, nutrient uptake, and profitability vis-à-vis salinity dynamics of the crops in rice-pulse-based cropping systems under different land elevations (medium upland and medium lowland). The experiment was conducted in a strip-split plot design having horizontal factors namely, Factor A: Six dates of sowing of rice at an interval of one week (2nd week of June to 3rd week of July), Factor B: Two land situations (medium upland and medium lowland) and Two Cropping Systems (Rice-Lathyrus and Rice-Lentil) as vertical factor, replicated four times. The results suggest that irrespective of land situation, early sown rice (15 June to 21 June) produces higher dry matter and grain yield compared to late sown crops. This early sowing of rice also facilitated the better performance of subsequent lathyrus and lentil, by avoiding the worst situation of the salinity build-up and drought stress later in the winter. Moreover, significantly higher productions were obtained from medium-lowland situations for both the cropping systems. Sowing date has also significantly influenced macro-nutrient uptake (NPK) by rice and pulse grains. It may be concluded that early sowing of rice may be a potential option for intensification of rice-pulse-based cropping systems under CSZ of West Bengal, India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The polders and islands in the salt-affected coastal zone of the Ganges Delta, home to approximately 15 million people in Bangladesh and 5 million in West Bengal, face challenges such as poverty, food insecurity, environmental vulnerability, and limited livelihood opportunities. Historically, agricultural production in these areas was mainly confined to the wet/Kharif season, with much of the land remaining fallow during the dry/Rabi season due to waterlogging, soil salinity, and perceived lack of irrigation water. Since 2015, researchers and NGOs from Australia, Bangladesh, and India collaborated on the project "Cropping system intensification in the salt-affected coastal zones of Bangladesh and West Bengal, India" to sustainably increase cropping intensity and productivity in this area. During 2015-2021, the project has made significant achievements and has demonstrated strategies that are likely to increase productivity, cropping intensity, and livelihoods of the people. However, to maintain these gains and address risks like climate change impacts, untimely rainfall, and market fluctuations, further research was deemed necessary. Thus, ACIAR funded Phase 2 of the project for 2021-2025 which aims to sustain and enhance the achievements. This special issue presents some research findings on projected climate change, agronomic experiments, irrigation and drainage management, and social and economic issues conducted under the project Phase 2 in Bangladesh and West Bengal, India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal ecosystems face numerous constraints, including erratic rainfall distribution, seawater intrusion, water stagnation with saline water, seasonal escalation of soil salinity, fluctuations in groundwater table depth, and variable moisture availability in the crop rhizosphere. While rice in the Kharif season navigates these challenges with the aid of monsoon rains, for reliable crop yield and productivity, crops in the Rabi season encounter multiple limitations due to low and variable rainfall. The shallow groundwater and surface drying drive the upward movement of salts into the root zone which coupled with soil drying and waterlogging events cause severe constraints for winter cropping. The spatial and temporal variability of these processes creates a complex interplay of climatic and soil factors with crop performance. A model-based crop simulation approach can help to resolve such complex interactions. In this study, we undertook the parameterization, calibration, and validation of the APSIM-Oryza and APSIM-Lentil models to simulate diverse experimental treatments within a ricepulse cropping system across two seasons in the southern part of West Bengal, India. The model predicted observed biomass and grain yield well for both rice and lentil crops in the cropping system, with high coefficients of determination and acceptable RMSE values. Similarly simulated values during calibration and validation for grain yield and biomass of both rice (grain: RMSE = 331 [SDobs = 401] and 193 [SDobs = 203]; biomass: RMSE = 431 [SDobs = 743] and 465 [SDobs = 683]), and lentil (grain: RMSE = 79.1 [SDobs = 64] and 192 [SDobs = 237]; biomass: RMSE = 50.4 [SDobs= 47] and 222 [SDobs = 124]) and water use efficiency across various irrigation and salinity levels for rice and lentil exhibited satisfactory accuracy and precision. This validated model has the potential for predicting climate change scenarios and assessing agronomic impacts and adaptations in coastal saline regions. Considering the pivotal role of winter legume crops in soil fertility, income, and food security, the APSIM-Lentil model can be further used for developing resilient and sustainable practices in the face of complex environmental challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Extensive modelling studies on nitrogen (N) dynamics in flooded soil systems have been published. Consequently, many N dynamics models are available for users to select from. With the current research trend, inclined towards multidisciplinary research, and with substantial progress in understanding of N dynamics in flooded soil systems, the objective of this paper is to provide an overview of the modelling concepts and performance of 14 models developed to simulate N dynamics in flooded soil systems. This overview provides breadth of knowledge on the models, and, therefore, is valuable as a first step in the selection of an appropriate model for a specific application. © 2017 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]