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Like all other sectors, higher education in the agriculture sector has been affected by the COVID-19. Both teachers and students have faced problems in communication, learning and motivation during online education. The major issues include the limited internet access coupled with poor supply of electricity especially in rural areas, in most of the developing countries. In this article, we have discussed various challenges faced by agricultural students and teachers during online teaching and learning after the COVID-19 pandemic. The article also discusses prospects and strategies to improve online teaching and learning in the higher education of the agriculture sector of developing countries.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) exhibits a greater capacity for cadmium (Cd) absorption compared to other cereal crops, leading to elevated daily Cd intake, and posing a significant threat to public health. For the mitigation of Cd stress in sustainable and environmentally friendly way, a pot study was designed by using exogenous application of various biostimulants, i.e. Nigella sativa and Ocimum sanctum extracts: 0%, 10%, and 20% in combination with the chelating agent ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) using 0 and 5 mg kg under various levels of Cd stress (i.e. 0, 5, 10, and 15 mg kg soil). Results revealed that Cd stress significantly reduced the seed emergence, growth, root, and allometric characters and yield-related parameters of wheat crops. The most observable reduction was documented in wheat plants exposed to a higher Cd concentration (15 mg kg), followed by the lower Cd level (control). The combined application of bio-stimulants and EDTA minimized the negative impacts of Cd stress. The highest increase in seedling emergence (5.44%), leaf area (50.60%), number of tillers (31.02%), grain yield per plant (24.28%), biological yield (13.97%), and decrease in Cd levels in grains (40%) was noticed where 20% foliar application of N. sativa and 10% of O. sanctum biostimulants were done using 5 mg kg of soil-applied EDTA. This intervention demonstrated a notable reduction in Cd-induced negative effects, highlighting the potential of these substances in promoting sustainable wheat cultivation in contaminated environments. Moreover, it is an eco-friendly and approachable method at the field level able to ensure food safety. Graphic Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers in agricultural tracts is a serious problem, contributing to soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) depletion. In this regard, the use of chemical fertilizers together with organic amendments is considered as a sustainable approach, which alters SMBC, thereby increasing nutrient availability in soil-plant ecosystems. The present study was thus conducted to examine the effects of various mixes of organic amendments both with and without chemical fertilizers (NPK) on SMBC and pea (Pisum sativum L.) growth. The following eight treatments were established: control, 100% farmyard manure (FYM), 100% compost, 50% compost + 50% FYM, 33% compost + 33% chemical fertilizers (NPK) + 33% FYM, 50% chemical fertilizers + 50% FYM, 50% compost + 50% NPK, and 100% NPK, each with three replications. Results showed that the combination of 33% compost + 33% NPK + 33% FYM (T5) had the most significant impact on plant height, number of leaves, and roots and shoots biomass. Furthermore, the combination of NPK, compost and FYM enhanced the soil organic matter and SMBC, contributing to the increased amounts of available NPK in the soil-plant systems. Based on the results, it has been concluded that 33% compost + 33% NPK, and 33% FYM improves pea productivity due to improved SMBC that contributed to increased nutrient uptake by plants. It has been suggested to the farmers that integrated nutrient management approaches must be adopted for maintaining SMBC and further sustainable crop production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought is one of the critical limitations to agricultural soils and crop plants. Scarcity of water is increasing due to climate change that lead to increasing threats to global food security. Therefore, ecofriendly and cost effective strategies are highly desirable for mitigating drought stress along with sustainable and smart agricultural production. The aim of the study was to mitigate DS using seed priming and exogenous supplementation of ß-aminobutyric acid (BABA) in linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.). Different doses (0, 50, 100 and 150 µM) of BABA were used for seed priming agent and foliar spraying under three soil moisture levels viz., 25% (SM25), 45% (SM45) and 65% (SM65). The response variables of both experiments included different agro-botanical traits and oxidative stress indicators such as melondialdehyde content, free proline accumulation, and antioxidant defense in plants. The linseed plants showed water stress at SM25 that reduced plant height, number of branches per plant, time taken to flower initiation and heading, and root and shoot dry weights. Additionally, the number of capsules and seeds per capsule showed a significant decline at SM25, which led to a drastic reduction in 100-seed weight yield in linseed plants in both experiments. However, seed priming and foliar supplementation with of BABA (50-100 µM) significantly improved these morpho-agronomical attributes in linseed plants under DS. The results revealed that the BABA was fully active in linseed plants at SM25. Interestingly, the combination of SM25 with BABA significantly improved the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and peroxidase (POD) activity, which significantly enhanced DS tolerance in linseed plants. These findings might be useful to oil seed breeders and farmers linseed for breeding program in linseed plants as well as sustainable agricultural production of oil seed crop plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pearl millet can be cultivated in a wide range of soil types under tropical and sub-tropical warm climates. The lack of improved cultivars and non-judicious use of phosphatic fertilizers are among the major reasons for low productivity of pearl millet. The farmers usually apply nitrogen (N); however, do not apply phosphorus (P) fertilizer to pearl millet grown as fodder, which significantly reduces fodder yield. It is assumed that P application can improve fodder yield of pearl millet. Therefore, this two-year (2020 and 2021) field study tested different pearl millet genotypes (i.e., 'MP-24', 'YBS-70', 'YBS-86', 'YBS-93', 'YBS-95', 'YBS-98', '18-BY', '14-RS-05', '55-S-85', and '16-RBS-10') for their fodder production with P fertilization (90 kg ha -1) and no P application (control). Phosphorus application significantly improved growth, fodder yield (24%), P uptake and P use efficiency (PUE) of all tested genotypes with significant differences among genotypes. The genotype 'YBS - 70' produced the highest fodder yield with P application due to notable expansion in entire growth-related traits along with higher P uptake, P use efficiency (PUE), and net economic returns. The P application to genotype 'YBS-70' improved net economic returns (130% and 151% during 2020 and 2021, respectively) and benefit:cost ratio (59% and 61% during 2020 and 2021, respectively) during both years. It is concluded that fodder yield, PUE and profitability of millet may be improved by P application coupled with a suitable genotype. It is recommended that genotype 'YBS-70' can be grown with 90 kg ha-1 P application for higher fodder yield. Nevertheless, different P levels must be tested for concrete recommendations for different soil types in various agroecological zones of Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]