Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya (RVSKVV) is an agricultural state university located in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India. It was established in 2008 by splitting the horticulture department, and the veterinary science and animal husbandry departments of Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya (JNKVV).
Arsenic (As) transfer from contaminated soils to food grains is a major pathway of As entry into humans in paddy growing areas posing a serious risk to human health. This study investigates the effectiveness of irrigation water management combined with phosphate (P) and vermicompost applications, in immobilizing As and blocking its entry to rice grain. Different doses (0, 30 and 60 mg kg–1) of P, vermicompost (C), (0, 2.5 and 5.0 g kg–1) were applied under W1 (submerged) and W2 (alternate wetting and drying, AWD). Total and bioavailable As in soil were 33.8 mg kg–1 and 3.41 mg kg–1, respectively. Under different treatment combinations, As in soil was highest in amorphous hydrous oxides of Fe and Al (F3) fraction whereas least in non-specifically sorbed (F1) fraction. Arsenic content in rice grain decreased from 0.38 (P1-0 mg kg–1) to 0.25 mg kg–1 (P3-60 mg kg–1), whereas in case of vermicompost application the grain As decreased from 0.32 (C1-0 g kg–1) to 0.27 mg kg–1 (C3-5.0 g kg–1). The lowest grain As content was observed under the W2 condition with the combined application of P (P2-30 mg kg–1) and vermicompost (C2-2.5 g kg–1). Both grain and straw As were positively correlated with As associated with F1 and F2 soil fractions, whereas both showed negative correlation with As in F3, dithionite citrate bicarbonate-As, and oxalate-extractable Fe. Overall, the combined application of P (at 30 mg kg–1) and vermicompost (at 2.5 g kg–1) effectively reduced grain As content under W2. These findings suggest that combining AWD with P and vermicompost application can be a viable approach for reducing As toxicity in rice cultivation; however, field-scale validation across different soils and cultivars is required before broader recommendations can be made. Based on the graphical abstract, this study evaluates the effectiveness of irrigation water management combined with phosphate (P) and vermicompost (C) applications in immobilizing arsenic (As) and limiting its transfer to rice grains. Different doses of P and vermicompost were applied under two irrigation regimes: W1 (continuous submergence) and W2 (alternate wetting and drying, AWD). The total and bioavailable As contents in soil were 33.8 mg kg⁻¹ and 3.41 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. Across all treatment combinations, the highest proportion of soil As was associated with the amorphous hydrous oxides of Fe and Al (F3), while the lowest was found in the non-specifically sorbed (F1) fraction. Under W1 conditions, As distribution was higher in labile fractions (F1 = 0.52
Arsenic (As) contamination of groundwater-irrigated rice agroecosystems presents a major environmental and public health challenge across the Bengal Delta Plain (BDP). Although long-term irrigation is thought of as a dominant As input pathway, there is a lack of studies that have quantitatively reconciled field-scale As influx with measured soil accumulation. This study establishes a 33-year As mass balance for a rice field in Nadia district, West Bengal, integrating measured irrigation-water As concentrations, rice grain and straw As contents, crop yields and topsoil As levels. Annual groundwater irrigation introduced 207 mg As m(-2) yr(-1), whereas biomass removed only 3.66 mg As m(-2) yr(-1)(< 2 % of inputs). The resulting net accumulation of 203.4 mg m-2 yr-1 predicted an enrichment of 39.9 mg kg(-1 )in the 0-15 cm soil layer, aligning closely with the measured value of 37.9 mg kg(-1). This agreement indicates minimal leaching or lateral losses and reflects strong Fe-mediated retention under flooded redox conditions. The findings confirm that groundwater irrigation alone accounts for long-term As build-up in BDP paddy soils and provide a quantitative basis for anticipating future soil burdens under continued reliance on As-bearing aquifers.
Background: Keeping in view the majority population under marginal and small category, dairy enterprise is considered as one of the major agri-allied sectors. It has capability to improve economics of rural households and hence hunger, poverty and sustainability. Using cutting-edge statistical techniques, this study assesses the productivity, resource allocation and economic efficiency of dairy farms in four significant bovine-rearing states in India. Methods: Four hundred farms (smallholder, family-operated and semi-commercial) in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh were selected using stratified simple random sampling. Data envelopment analysis (DEA), principal component analysis (PCA), cluster analysis and stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) were used to analyze the data. Result: Findings indicate notable typological and geographical variations in profitability, input use and efficiency. Due to input misallocation and a lesser adoption of technology, smallholder farms fell behind semi-commercial farms in terms of technical and economic efficiency. Input access, customized extension services and best-practice scaling are highlighted in policy proposals. Additionally, the results provide solid benchmarks and practical advice for policy development and farm improvement.
Fruits are essential for a balanced diet as they provide important nutrients such as dietary fiber, minerals, vitamins, and carbohydrates. Despite advancements in fruit production, postharvest losses remain a challenge due to the high moisture content and perishable nature of fruits. To address this issue, effective preservation methods are needed. Edible coatings have emerged as a promising solution by creating a protective barrier that controls moisture loss, gas exchange, and oxidation, thereby extending the shelf life of fruits. These coatings can also enhance the nutritional quality of fruits by incorporating bioactive compounds such as antioxidants and antimicrobials. This review discusses recent developments in edible coating materials, formulation techniques, and application methods, highlighting their impact on fruit storage and postharvest physiology. It suggests promoting the use of biodegradable and active edible coatings on a commercial scale to reduce reliance on synthetic packaging and minimize post-harvest losses. Future research should focus on practicality, regulatory compliance, and consumer acceptance to facilitate the widespread adoption of edible coatings in fruit preservation.
Phytophthora stem blight (PSB), caused by Phytophthora cajani, is a destructive disease of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) that can lead to complete crop loss under favorable conditions. Effective resistance breeding is constrained by the lack of reliable and reproducible screening methods. The present study aimed to standardize and compare artificial inoculation techniques for consistent induction of Phytophthora blight under controlled conditions. Ten inoculation methods targeting different infection pathways were evaluated in greenhouse pot experiments over two consecutive seasons (2023-24 and 2024-25) using susceptible (UPAS-120, ICP-7119, ICP-2376) and moderately resistant (KPBR-80-2-1, IPAC-79, IPAB-7-2-1-7) pigeonpea cultivars. Disease incidence was recorded to assess the efficiency and reproducibility of each technique. All methods successfully established infection; however, disease severity varied significantly among techniques and genotypes. The leaf-lamina inoculation method consistently produced the highest and most uniform disease incidence, recording 97.7% and 96.6% in the susceptible cultivar UPAS-120 and 83.3% and 86.6% in the moderately resistant cultivar KPBR-80-2-1 across the two seasons. Node inoculation emerged as the second most reliable method. The study identifies most efficient and quick, reproducible inoculation techniques that enable rapid and high-throughput resistance screening, providing a robust methodological framework to support pigeonpea breeding and Phytophthora blight management.
