Abstract Microbial and biochemical properties of soil respond quickly with change in management practices, compared to chemical and physical properties. Moreover, impact of conservation agriculture (CA) on soil microbial properties is limited to microbial enumeration, but its effect on soil enzyme and microbial activity is little documented. To address these problems soil enzyme activities [dehydrogenase (DHA), β-glucosidase (BGA), acid phosphatase (AcP) and alkaline phosphatase (AlP) and fluoresceine diacetate (FDA)], activities of soil microbes ((Nitrogen fixation (NFBAct), Phosphate solubilization (PSBAct) & Cellulolytic activities (CDBAct)), microbial biomass ((Soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) & soil microbial biomass nitrogen (SMBN)) and available nutrient were studied to evaluate biological soil health in alluvial soil of lower Indo-Gangetic plain (IGP) under different degree of CA. Field experiment was conducted in split plot design (SPD), under 3 cropping systems (RMCp: rice-maize-cowpea; RWGg: rice-wheat-green gram; RCfBr; rice-cauliflower-bororice/summer rice). Tillage operations (CT: conventional tillage; MT: minimum tillage and ZT: zero tillage) was main plot and residue application as sub plot treatments [(R 0 (no residue), R 50 (50% residue) and R 100 (100% residue)]. All the treatments were replicated thrice. Considering values of biological soil health index (BSHI), it is found that among different degree of CA, ZT (0.464) and (MT=0.441) and R 100 (0.464) treatment showed better response. Among different cropping system RMCp (0.359) & RWGg (0.343) outperformed RCfBr (0.609) cropping system with respect to (wrt) microbial and biochemical properties of the soil. Result indicated that for restoring microbial and biochemical properties of soil practices of CA can be promising solution. Importance ntensive farming is profit oriented and their sustainability are at risk. CA is low input farming and its practices (low mechanical disturbance, crop rotation, residues retention) help to restore agro-ecosystem. Thus, CA is emerging as potential technology to negate adverse impact of modern faming on soil. Soil microbial properties (population, activities, biomass and enzymes) are key indicators of soil health and quality as they are highly sensitive to management practices. Hence to address impact of CA practices on soil, microbial and biochemical aspects are studied. Degree of CA practice with higher BSHI can be popularized in filed to restore soil. Highlights Actual response and activities of soil microbes and enzymes under CA were lacking. Ranking of different treatments based on multivariate analysis and BSHI score indicated ZT + R 100 was best suited to soil microbes and enzyme, while, higher fertilizer dose showed negative impact on them. Higher SMB was detected in soil under conservation practices especially under RMCp & RWGg. RCfBr showed poor performance as legume haven’t incorporated in rotation. CT favour enzyme activities, especially when combined with residue application under legume-based cropping systems.
There has been limited econometric research on the impact of labour regulations on the growth in manufacturing employment in India, which has been mainly confined to the organised/formal sector of manufacturing, accounting for only about 20–25 per cent of the total manufacturing employment. To give an empirical content to labour reforms in terms of an index, the focus of the past research dealing with labour regulations has been mainly on the amendments made by different states in India to the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (IDA). The enhancement of the threshold applicability limit of the IDA from 100 to 300 workers, as several states have done in the past, has received particular attention. However, manufacturing enterprises employing up to nine workers form about 98 per cent of total manufacturing enterprises in India and account for a dominant portion of total manufacturing employment. Employment in such enterprises is unlikely to be impacted much by an enhancement of the threshold applicability limit of the IDA. Rather, employment in such enterprises may get a boost from an enhancement in the threshold applicability limit under the Factories Act, 1948. In this paper, the state-wise manufacturing employment data, covering both formal and informal segments, are used to investigate econometrically the impact of labour reforms, particularly the enhancements of the threshold applicability limit under the Factories Act and the IDA, on manufacturing employment. The results of the analysis indicate that labour reforms significantly positively impacted manufacturing employment in India and contributed to employment growth.
The literature on backward and forward linkages in global value chains (GVCs) and regional value chains (RVCs) explores the interconnectedness of production processes across different stages and locations within the global economy. The significance of imports in value chains, however, is relatively unexplored. Recognizing imports' role in bolstering exports can rejuvenate external demand and spur growth. To examine Indian imports from ASEAN, we utilize the ARDL bounds test for 2011–12 Q1 to 2020–21 Q2. The results reject the null hypothesis of no level relationship between ASEAN imports and other variables. Notably, the positive long-run coefficient of export logs suggests a favorable impact on Indian imports from ASEAN, while the negative COVID-19 dummy coefficient indicates pandemic-induced import setbacks.
This paper explores the contribution of wage income to the overall earnings of agricultural households in India. Utilising data from the 2019 “Land and Livestock Holding of Households and Situation Assessment of Agricultural Households” conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) in 2018–19, the study offers an in-depth analysis of the proportion of income derived from wages by farmers across various states and landholding sizes. Additionally, the paper investigates the impact of public employment programmes, such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), on rural wages and the income of agricultural households. Findings from the paper point towards increasing landlessness among small and marginal farmers, as they increasingly rely on wages to supplement their livelihood. While a focus on increasing agricultural growth rate by the policymakers may contribute towards farmers’ welfare, policies need to be focused towards increase in non-farm employment. Rural employment programmes help to address the issue of chronic unemployment and alleviate rural poverty. Public investments in the form of irrigation facilities and other rural infrastructure are also required to promote sustained agricultural growth and thereby foster well-being among the rural agricultural households.
Utilizing various nanomaterials such as nanoadsorbents, nanocatalysts, nanofilters, and nanosensors, air pollution remediation has shown to be one of the most advantageous environmental uses of nanotechnology. The nanoparticles are able to absorb a variety of airborne pollutants. It is also possible to employ certain semiconducting nanomaterials for photocatalytic cleanup etc. for the same. Controlling air contamination can also be accomplished by nanostructured membranes that have tiny enough pores to isolate different types of contaminants from exhaust. Research shows that the adsorption capability of nanoparticles, along with their catalytic properties, make them effective anti-pollutants. This review paper mainly focuses on nano-adsorbents and their mode of operation. The paper mainly highlights (a) The usage of 15 different types of nanomaterials in remediation is discussed. (b) The bottleneck to the transfer of technologies on a large industrial scale was elaborated. (c) The feasibility of technology transfer on large-scale implementation was discussed. (d) The feasibility of technology transfer on large-scale implementation was discussed. The study also emphasizes the global understanding of the bibliometric analysis using Biblioshiny and VOSviewer showing that developed countries like China, USA, and Canada are most prominent in this research sector. This article aims to holistically cover all the angles of the employability of nanoparticles (NPs) in removing pollutant particles from the air maintaining an overall sustainable approach.
