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Agriculture not only contributes significantly to Carbon Dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) gas emissions but also acts as their mitigating agent. Carbon (C) credits have emerged as an important economic tool that links environmental sustainability with finance. Incentives are provided to individuals, organisations and various industries with each credit represented by one metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) removed. They allow the institutions to invest in climate smart practices. Environmentally sustainable methods such as direct-seeded rice (DSR) and alternating wetting and drying (AWD), application of biochar and integrated nutrient management practices help in enhancing soil carbon, methane reduction and improving soil health simultaneously. Verra’s Certified Carbon Standard (VCS) and the Gold Standard (GS) are worldwide frameworks that govern voluntary carbon market (VCM). VCM, while its advantages, has challenges in maintaining trust via rigorous monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) systems. However, the addition of advanced technological interventions such as remote sensing, artificial intelligence and blockchain technology enhance the transparency and ensure additionality along with making VCM accessible to smallholders. So, the participation of agriculture in carbon market is not just a financial mechanism, but a demonstration of global responsibility. This review throws light on the relationship among decarbonization, VCM and carbon credit generation, emphasizing on enhancement of food security along with restoration of ecosystem and contribution towards global climate goals through sustainable land-use practices.
This review provides a comprehensive mechanistic framework for rice adaptation to low-light stress, integrating morpho-physiological adjustments and biochemical plasticity with the phytochrome-PIF signalling network to guide molecular breeding of light-resilient cultivars. Low-light stress (LLS), defined as photosynthetically active radiation below 600 μmol m−2 s−1, is an increasingly important constraint on rice productivity in monsoon-dominated agroecosystems, where persistent cloud cover, dense planting, and atmospheric pollution markedly reduce light availability. Under natural field conditions, pollution-derived seasonal LLS causes yield losses of 10–20
Zinc (Zn) deficiency remains a critical constraint to both wheat productivity and human nutrition, particularly in regions dependent on cereal-based diets. Agronomic biofortification, guided by the 4R Nutrient Stewardship framework Right Source, Right Rate, Right Time, and Right Place offers a pragmatic and scalable solution to enhance grain Zn content while sustaining yield. This review synthesizes current knowledge on Zn dynamics in soil-plant systems, its physiological and biochemical roles in wheat growth, and the agronomic strategies that optimize Zn use efficiency. Emphasis is placed on integrated nutrient management, novel fertilizer technologies (including nano-fertilizers), and genotype-specific responses to Zn application. Furthermore, the review highlights research gaps such as the need for field-scale validation of nanotechnology, microbial interactions, and human health impact assessments. A holistic approach combining precision agronomy, genetic potential, and emerging digital tools for precision zinc application is proposed to ensure sustainable Zn biofortification outcomes. This review demonstrates that integrating Zn biofortification with the 4R nutrient stewardship framework offers a practical and scalable roadmap for increasing zinc concentration in wheat grains, thereby enhancing dietary zinc intake and directly addressing hidden hunger in cereal-dependent populations.
The genetic basis of mesocotyl length and its associated loci is critical for improving seedling emergence and establishment in direct-seeded rice systems. This study investigated the phenotypic variation and genetic architecture of mesocotyl length in a diverse panel of 192 rice genotypes using a genome-wide association study (GWAS) approach. The panel, comprising germplasm accessions, advanced breeding lines, and released varieties, was genotyped using a 44 K SNP array, resulting in 19,613 high-quality polymorphic SNPs after stringent filtering. Phenotypic evaluation revealed continuous variation in mesocotyl length, ranging from 2.48 to 18.98 mm, with high broad-sense heritability (71.2
Rice blast is one of the foremost destructive rice disease causing serious yield losses under conducive conditions. The most ideal, cost effective and environmentally friendly approach to manage blast disease is the use of resistant cultivars. However, due to high variability, the blast fungus overcomes resistance after a couple of years, so identification of novel broad-spectrum resistance genes is indispensable. In this study, a set of 81 Central Rice Research Institute released varieties (CRVs) were screened against leaf blast resistance at CRRI, Cuttack for two consecutive years. The disease reaction showed that twenty varieties were highly resistant, twenty one showed moderate reaction, and forty varieties were found susceptible. Based on cluster and structure analysis, 81 CRVs were categorized into three groups. The CRVs showed 96
