The development processes of soil are influenced by temperature and precipitation; moreover, changes in soil properties are influenced by land use factors. This study aimed to identify the pattern of changes in climate over 40 years (from 1985–2024) and, concomitantly, the spatial and temporal variabilities in the soil properties of Sylhet, a humid subtropical region of Bangladesh. Soil samples were taken from 8 unions of the Sylhet sadar upazila during 2024 and tested in the laboratory to determine the present status of different soil parameters. The temporal changes in soil properties were assessed by comparing the laboratory-analysed data with soil resource development institute-reported soil data from 2007. The annual maximum temperature during the last 20 years of the study (2005–2024) increased by 0.42°C on average, and the hottest year was 2023. The total annual precipitation sharply decreased by 762.34 mm compared with that in the first 20 years (1985–2004), with continuous below-normal precipitation events (-1270.96 mm to -104.32 mm) from 2018–2023 and high interannual variability. In addition, this study revealed greater spatial variability in soils than temporal variability, which was influenced mainly by inherent soil characteristics such as texture and pH and assumed land management practices. Moderate temporal variability in soil organic carbon and other nutrient availability might be associated with changing climates. These findings on spatial and temporal changes in soil properties are expected to be helpful for guiding future soil and crop management in humid subtropical regions in a better way under changing climates.
Char lands of Bangladesh are ecologically fragile zones, frequently affected by flooding, erosion, and seasonal drought, posing serious challenges to sustainable agriculture and livelihoods. Agroforestry provides a climate-resilient solution by integrating crop and tree production to enhance land productivity and stability. This study assessed the potential of an okra-mango-based agroforestry system under varying okra planting spacings and organic and inorganic fertilizer applications in the char lands of Gangachara Upazila, Rangpur District. A factorial randomized complete block design was applied, including three spacings of okra (60 × 60 cm, 60 × 45 cm, and 60 × 30 cm) and four fertilizer treatments (control no fertilizer, cow dung, poultry manure, and chemical fertilizer. Results revealed that the intermediate spacing (60 × 45 cm) combined with chemical fertilizer produced the highest okra yield (6.91 t ha−1), benefit–cost ratio (4.71), and land equivalent ratio (1.77), reflecting improved productivity and resource-use efficiency. Although sole cropping showed marginally higher yields, agroforestry systems delivered better economic and ecological outcomes, particularly in terms of biological product outputs, land utilization, and sustainability. Therefore, the okra–mango agroforestry system with intermediate okra spacing and chemical fertilizer application achieved the highest productivity, economic return, and land-use efficiency in char lands. These findings highlight the system’s potential as a climate-resilient land-use option for improving food production and livelihoods in ecologically fragile char ecosystems.
ABSTRACT The extremity of climate change (CC) has become more crucial, and under the current context of CC during the last decade. The cropping system (CS) approach is more appropriate than a suitable and established package of practices for individual crops, as CS interrelates with other components and resources related to sustainable farming under the changing climate. The importance of CC in the current era must be documented. Hence, an initiative was taken to evaluate the current research published during the last decade to assess the role of the intercropping system in relation to resilience to CC and alignment with the SDGs. The study considered were from 2015 to 2024, supporting the importance of the intercropping system and the mitigation or adaptation of CC in the present context as a sustainable CS. The current scientometric analysis of the intercropping system suggested that it should be integrated into agricultural policies in agriculture‐based countries, climate action plans, the global sustainability framework, participatory research, co‐learning, and scientific experimentation. Furthermore, cutting‐edge technologies such as generative artificial intelligence, crop modeling, and the Internet of Things (IoT), along with farm mechanization, can be included to broaden the scope for the adoption of intercropping systems for agricultural sustainability.
ABSTRACT A rice‐black‐gram‐cropping sequence‐based field experiment was conducted at the farmer's field of Niali, Cuttack, Odisha, India, from 2019 to 2020 and 2020 to 2021, with a split‐plot design, where four rice varieties were assigned to main plots (viz., V 1 : CR 1009 Sub1, V 2 : CR 1018, V 3 : Pooja and V 4 : Upahar), and six nutrient management practices were assigned to subplots (viz., N 0 : Control, N 1 : 100% Recommended dose of fertilisers (RDF: 80–40–40 kg N, P 2 O 5 , K 2 O ha −1 ), N 2 : 50% RDF from chemical fertilisers + FYM @ 8 t ha −1 , N 3 : 50% RDF from chemical fertilisers + Sesbania green manuring @ 1.5 t ha −1 , N 4 : Rice Crop Manager (115.5–32.7–52.8–25.0 kg N, P 2 O 5 , K 2 O, ZnSO 4 ha −1 + FYM @ 3 t ha −1 ), N 5 : Real‐time). The highest system yield (7.82 t REY ha −1 ), system productivity (21.43 kg ha −1 day −1 ), system profitability (₹222.64 ha −1 day −1 ), system gross return (₹144,080 ha −1 ), net return (₹81,262 ha −1 ) and B:C ratio (2.27) were recorded in the Upahar rice‐based system during both seasons. Among the different nutrient management practices in both seasons, the Rice Crop Manager recommended that the Kharif rice‐black‐gram‐based cropping system perform best, since the total system yield, system productivity, system profitability, gross return, net return and B:C ratio were 8.77 t REY ha −1 , 24.02 kg ha −1 day −1 , ₹161,476 ha −1 , ₹93,219 ha −1 and 2.37, respectively. Therefore, the application of rice crop management‐based fertilisers may be recommended to improve the productivity and profitability of rice‐black‐gram‐based cropping systems.
Combined effects of magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), and boron (B) on bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) under terrace soils are not well documented. Therefore, a study was conducted to assess the combined effect of Mg, Zn, and B fertilization on bitter gourd growth, yield, nutrient use efficiency (NUE), postharvest quality, and profitability. Nine treatment combinations, based on varying levels of Mg, Zn, and B were tested in a RCBD with three replications. Treatments were T1 (Mg0Zn0B0 kg ha−1), T2 (Mg4Zn3B1.5 kg ha−1), T3 (Mg4Zn3B2 kg ha−1), T4 (Mg4Zn4B1.5 kg ha−1), T5 (Mg4Zn4B2 kg ha−1), T6 (Mg8Zn3B1.5 kg ha−1), T7 (Mg8Zn3B2 kg ha−1), T8 (Mg8Zn4B1.5 kg ha−1) and T9 (Mg8Zn4B2 kg ha−1). The combined application of Mg8Zn4B2 kg ha−1 (T9) significantly increased marketable fruit yield (14.8 t ha−1), which was 98
