A thorough understanding of the patterns in the occurrence of insect pests and their natural enemies is essential for developing an effective pest management system. In this context, an experiment during 2022 and 2023 was undertaken considering some advanced lines of green gram including two popular varieties to study the population dynamics of major sucking pests along with their associated natural enemies as well as their correlation with prevalent weather parameters. Major sucking insect pests recorded during the investigation were black bean aphid (Aphis craccivora) and flower thrips (Megalurothrips sp.). The natural enemies recorded were coccinelid predators like Coccinella transversalis, Cheliomenes sexmaculata and Coccinella septempunctata along with rove beetle and spider. Megalurothrips sp. reached its highest peak in flowering stage while highest population of Aphis craccivora was recorded during pod development stage. Maximum population of Coccinelid beetles, spiders and rove beetles were recorded during pod development stage. Sukumar was identified as the least susceptible germplasm to flower thrips, followed by BCM 20-47, whereas Virat exhibited relatively higher susceptibility. A similar trend was observed for aphid infestation, with Sukumar showing the least susceptibility, followed by BCM 20-47, while BCM 20-46 was the most susceptible. The overall mean populations of natural enemies were highest in Sukumar. The correlation studies revealed that only rainfall showed significant negative correlation with the aphid population in both the years whereas, most meteorological parameters exhibited non-significant correlations with flower thrips and natural enemy population.
Most rice growing regions around the world frequently encounter with BLB disease. Host resistance is the most favored approach to manage the bacterial pathogen, Xoo. by developing durable BLB resistant cultivars. Eighty-eight elite lines including checks were evaluated in this study. The phenotypic screening categorized five lines as resistant (R) with the disease score of 1 and seven lines as moderately resistant (MR) with the disease score of 3. Molecular characterization was done using 25 SSR markers, specifically linked to BLB resistance genes (Xa2, Xa4, xa5, Xa7, xa8, Xa10, xa13, Xa21, xa24, Xa33). Among the lines with resistant and moderately resistant reaction at field conditions, AM865 was detected with four gene combination. The lines, AM853, AM857, AM867 and AM855 were detected with three gene combination. The markers, RM206, RM400 and RM21, were considered to be more informative and effective for differentiating the elite lines as they had higher PIC values, higher Nei's genetic diversity index and higher Shannon's informative index. Molecular diversity analysis grouped elite lines into 3 major clusters in which, all resistant and moderately resistant lines were grouped under cluster II. The present study identified an elite line, AM865, with the multiple resistance genes (Xa4+xa5+xa13+Xa21) along with the phenotypic score of 3, could confer broad spectrum resistance for BLB.
Seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.), locally revered as "Ladakh Gold," represents an underutilized nutritional resource thriving at 3,660 m in Lahaul-Spiti's cold desert. This study standardized low-cost processing protocols for jam, pulp, leaf tea ("Kaaru"), and fruit residue tea at Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Tabo during 2020-21, targeting sustainable livelihoods for remote producers lacking cold-chain infrastructure. Standardized protocols yielded three superior jam formulations from 2.5 kg fresh berries: T1 (whole fruit + sugar syrup) limited to 30-day shelf life due to high water activity; T2 (fine pulp + sucrose + 10 min boiling + 0.05% KMS) and T3 (pulp + 1g sodium bicarbonate) achieved 24-month ambient stability** with light orange color, semi-solid/soft texture, and sweet-acidic flavor profile. Sensory evaluation by 10 trained panelists (9-point hedonic scale) ranked T2 highest (overall acceptability: 8.1) due to optimal texture (8.1) and flavor balance (8.4), significantly superior to T1 (5.7 overall). Pulp processing produced three formulations: T1 (crushing + sieving) stable 12-18 months with vibrant orange pulpy texture; T2 (pulp + sugar + boiling + 0.03% KMS) and T3 (pulp + 0.03% sodium benzoate) achieved 2-year stability** with deep amber syrupy (T2) and bright orange liquid (T3) characteristics. 'Kaaru' leaf tea protocol utilized disease-free male leaves preferred for higher polyphenol content, processed through washing, shade drying (1 week), 3-4 minute boiling, and sugar finishing for optimal antioxidant extraction without bitterness. Zero-waste fruit residue tea converted pulp extraction skins/seeds via sun drying (1 week) into premium beverage with black tea, ginger, cardamom, and jaggery aromatics. KVK Tabo formulations require minimal equipment (manual crushing, domestic boiling) and locally available preservatives (KMS Rs. 200/kg, sodium benzoate Rs. 300/kg), ideal for Lahaul-Spiti women SHGs. T2 jam and T3 pulp offer immediate commercialization potential with >80% sensory acceptance and 24-fold shelf-life extension over traditional methods, achieving complete resource utilization and sustainable market viability for trans-Himalayan producers.
This study was carried out at the Rice Research Farm, Prof. Rajendra Singh (Rajju Bhaiya) University, Naini, Prayagraj, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, to assess genetic variability, trait association, path coefficient, and genetic divergence among 14 rice genotypes during the Kharif season, 2025–2026. To investigate yield and associated characteristics, the experiment was set up in a randomized block design with three replications. All fourteen characters had extremely significant genotype differences according to analysis of variance, suggesting that there was enough diversity for efficient selection. For every trait, the phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was marginally larger than the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV), indicating a small environmental impact on their expression. Flag leaf area, number of spikelet’s per panicle, test weight, grain yield per plant, and grain production per hectare all showed higher GCV and PCV values, indicating greater genetic diversity for these traits. Grain yield per plant, number of spikelet’s per panicle, test weight, flag leaf area, and grain output per hectare all showed high heritability and high genetic advancement, suggesting the dominance of additive gene action and improved response to selection. Grain yield was found to be positively and significantly correlated with flag leaf area, number of spikelet’s per panicle, harvest index, and grain yield per plant at both the genotypic and phenotypic levels. These characteristics are crucial selection criteria for yield improvement since the path coefficient study further demonstrated that they had favourable direct effects on grain production. Genetic divergence analysis grouped the 14 genotypes into three clusters. Cluster I contained the maximum number (10 genotypes), followed by Cluster II (3 genotypes) and Cluster III (1 genotype). The highest inter-cluster distance occurred between Clusters II and III, suggesting that crosses between genotypes from these clusters could be valuable for future breeding programs.
The present study evaluated the biometrical growth of Spodoptera frugiperda larvae on maize and sorghum under laboratory conditions. The larvae passed through six instars on both host crops, exhibiting a progressive increase in head capsule width, body length and body width. The head capsule width ranged from 0.360 to 2.564 mm on maize and 0.347 to 2.548 mm on sorghum, while body length increased from 1.505 to 34.451 mm on maize and 1.470 to 33.914 mm on sorghum. Similarly, body width ranged from 0.466 to 4.884 mm on maize and 0.439 to 4.859 mm on sorghum. The progression factors indicated that larval growth followed a geometric pattern on both hosts. Regression analysis showed a strong linear relationship between larval instar and logarithmic measurements, with high coefficients of determination (R2 > 0.96). The results confirm that the larval development of S. frugiperda exhibited a consistent growth trend on both maize and sorghum, showing close agreement with Dyar’s law, although minor variations were observed.
A field experiment was conducted during late rabi, 2024–25 at dryland farm of S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, to evaluate the combined effect of sowing windows and varieties on growth, yield, protein content and post-harvest soil nutrient status of greengram. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with three sowing windows as main plots and four varieties as subplots and replicated thrice. The results from the present experiment concluded that sowing of greengram during II Fortnight of December significantly enhanced dry matter production (3411 kg ha- ¹) and seed yield (874 kg ha- ¹), recording 36.3% and 92.5% higher yield over crops sown during I and II Fortnight of January, respectively. Among varieties, LGG 630 produced the highest seed yield (819 kg ha- ¹), which was 72.4% higher than LGG 574. Protein content was not significantly influenced by sowing windows and varieties. The study indicates that timely sowing during II Fortnight of December combined with LGG 630 is optimal for maximizing greengram productivity during late rabi season on Southern Agro-Climatic Zone of Andhra Pradesh.
The present investigation was conducted to study different seed quality parameters in ten genotypes of green gram (Vigna radiata L.) under goan conditions. The present investigation revealed that significant differences were observed among genotypes of all traits studied, including germination percentage, shoot length (cm), root length (cm), total seedling length (cm), total fresh weight (gm), Seedling dry weight (gm), vigour Index I and Vigour Index II. The genotype TM 96-2 recorded significantly highest vigour Index I (3884.99) followed by shoot length (22.17 cm), root length (19.14 cm) and total seedling length (41.32 cm). whereas, genotype Sarthi recorded significantly highest germination percentage (98.25 %) and for other characters like shoot length (21.71 cm), root length (14.27), total seedling length (35.97 cm), seedling dry weight (0.26 gm) it recorded the second position among all the ten genotypes of green gram. The genotype GM-4 recorded significantly highest Vigour index II (26.30) and Seedling dry weight (0.32 gm). The lowest germination percentage was recorded in genotype Nawal (76.25 %). The results indicated that there is a existence of considerable genetic variability among all the tested ten genotypes, suggesting potential for selection and improvement of seed quality traits in mungbean breeding programs.
Post-harvest losses of horticultural produce remain a major challenge worldwide (accounting for 20–40 % losses depending on crop and supply-chain efficiency) particularly in developing economics where inadequate infrastructure and inefficient quality system prevails. Fruits, vegetables and floricultural products are biologically active and highly perishable, undergoing rapid physiological and biochemical changes after harvest. The aim of the post-harvest management, from harvest to consumption, is to deliver a product of acceptable eating quality to the consumer, despite storage or transport. Unfortunately, the most common conventional techniques used for quality evaluation are destructive, time-consuming, and unsuitable for real-time decision-making. Non-destructive technologies (NDTs) provide rapid, objective, and repeatable assessment of both external and internal quality attributes without compromising marketability. These technologies rely on physical principles such as optical, acoustic, thermal, magnetic and electromagnetic interactions with biological issues. But non-destructive optical techniques have become central to postharvest quality assessment of fruits and vegetables, enabling rapid, in-line, and objective evaluation without compromising product integrity. Among nondestructive optical techniques, visible and near-infrared spectroscopy (Vis – NIRS) has emerged as one of the most widely adopted non-destructive techniques for evaluating quality attributes of harvested horticultural produce. Operating within the spectral range of approximately 400–2500 nm, Vis–NIRS integrates pigment-sensitive visible wavelengths with chemically informative near-infrared absorption bands to enable rapid, non-invasive assessment of both external and internal quality parameters. This review summarizes the principles, instrumentation, and applications of Vis–NIRS in postharvest systems, focusing on soluble solids content, firmness, dry matter, maturity, physiological disorders, and shelf-life monitoring. Although challenges such as calibration transfer, cultivar variability, and water absorption effects remain, Vis–NIRS continues to demonstrate strong potential for real-time grading, decision support, and supply chain optimization in fresh horticultural commodities.
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) is a cross pollinated seed spice crop, which belongs to family Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) with chromosome number 2n=22 and is cultivated as an annual crop in Rabi season. An experiment was conducted under natural conditions to find out the resistance varieties/germplasm against Fusarium pallidoroseum. The average of two years shown that wilt incidence was ranged from 15.50 per cent to 58.50 per cent among tested 40 varieties/genotypes and it was lowest (15.50%) in the variety RF-205 while it was maximum in RF-125 (58.50%). None of the genotypes/varieties was found immune and highly resistant. However, three varieties (RF-101, RF-143 and RF-205) were found resistant while, three varieties (RF-290, RF-145 and RF-178) were found moderately resistant against wilt of fennel. Twenty-four varieties/genotypes (RF-157, UF-102, UF-57, UF-103, UF-1, UF-49, UF-206, UF-104, UF-271, UF-64, UF-114, UF-46, UF-3, RF-289, RF-281, UF229, UF-200, UF-201, UF-202, UF-175, UF-166, UF-261, UF-226 and UF-228) were found susceptible. Ten varieties/genotypes (RF-125, UF-82, UF-110, UF-43, UF-33, UF-45, UF-32, UF-4, UF-23 and UF69) were found highly susceptible to wilt of fennel.
Pomelo (Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr.) is a primitive citrus species and Manipur in Northeast India represents an important reservoir of its natural diversity. The local germplasm shows wide variation, but molecular studies are often difficult because pomelo tissues contain large amounts of polysaccharides and phenolic compounds that interfere with DNA isolation and genotyping. This study aimed to standardize a simple and reliable CTAB-based DNA extraction method suitable for high-throughput analysis. Key steps such as tissue pre-treatment, addition of antioxidants, buffer composition, purification, and precipitation were carefully optimized to obtain clean and intact DNA. The improved protocol consistently produced high-quality DNA with concentrations ranging from 217.88 ng/µl to 376.35 ng/µl and A260/280 absorbance ratios of 1.6 to 1.9 that successfully amplified SSR and SNP markers across multiple genotypes. This standardized procedure will support genetic diversity studies, germplasm identification, and future breeding improvement of pomelo in Manipur.
Stress management is a widely addressed matter in the production of fruit crops. Limitations that detrimentally affect the growth, photosynthetic efficiency and biomass production is called stress. Research on alleviating detrimental effects caused by abiotic and biotic factors is gaining pace due to the changing environmental conditions. Abiotic causes like changes in temperature, flood, pollution and associated effects of drought, salinity, waterlogging, freezing, scorching, and metal ion deposition are further complicating the efforts to mitigate stress. Different mitigation measures can be adopted based on the research such as the use of anti-transpirants, PGRs, or similar substances, etc. Anti-transpirants aid in the conservation of irrigation water, and create an environment that is favorable for plant growth in aridity. Different internal and external factors that plants respond to their surroundings under stress are managed by plant growth regulators. Several conservation practices traditionally followed like mulching and rainwater harvesting can be adopted after extensive research and standardization of new techniques. There are new findings on the effect of mulching and deficit irrigation for effective conservation and mitigation of abiotic stress. This review gives an insight into newly reported chemicals, methods and effects of various concentrations and applications on stress management of fruit crops.
Advancements in molecular genetics have identified important gene families like SWEET sugar transporters, LOX gene family, the transcription factor FvSTOP1, and FveIPT2 gene which are essential for sugar accumulation, anthocyanin production, handling plant resilience, and improving fruit quality respectively. In this review paper, we aimed to highlight the crucial role of strawberry biology and genetics, that lays the groundwork for future breeding and gene editing initiatives aimed at improving strawberry yield, fruit quality, and resilience to abiotic and biotic stress. Strawberries (Fragaria spp.), part of the Rosaceae family and known for their complex polyploidy, are appreciated worldwide for their bright color, unique aroma, and excellent nutritional value. Despite their widespread appeal and versatility in both fresh and processed options, strawberry farming encounters issues such as limited genetic diversity and vulnerability to various biotic threats including root pathogens (Phytophthora, Verticillium), leaf diseases, and anthracnose. The SWEET gene family manages two-way sugar transport, crucial for fruit development and flavor. FvSTOP1 controls anthocyanin production, linking fruit color to stress tolerance. FvLOX expression varies significantly with abiotic stresses like temperature, drought, and salinity, suggesting a role in plant resilience. FveIPT2 is a housekeeping gene that boosts metabolite levels and maintains growth. Manipulating these qualities presents an opportunity to enhance the nutritional and organoleptic characteristics of strawberries via genetic modification. Genome editing with CRISPR/Cas9 serves as a powerful method for enhancing the nutritional qualities of fruits and berries.
Jharkhand is experiencing significant shifts in its seasonal weather patterns, characterized by blurring of seasons, unseasonal rainfall, sudden thunderstorms, hailstorms, delayed monsoon onset, erratic rainfall distribution and frequent weather fluctuations. As a predominantly rainfed agricultural state, these changes pose severe risks to crop production and farm livelihoods. The present study documents and analyses the changing weather patterns of Jharkhand during 2024–2026, drawing on IMD weather records and district-level rainfall data, to assess agricultural risks and recommend adaptation strategies. The year 2024 recorded light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms, lightning, hail and gusty winds during March, damaging rabi crops, horticultural plantations and vegetables. May 2024 showed an unstable pre-monsoon pattern influenced by Cyclone Remal. The pre-monsoon season of 2025 received 168.9 mm rainfall against the normal 83.3 mm (103% excess), with 44 thunderstorm days and 14 hail days. The 2025 south-west monsoon recorded 1198.8 mm against the normal 1022.9 mm (17% above normal), with heavy to extremely heavy rainfall on 68 days and thunderstorm on 93 days. The January– February 2026 period showed a 94% rainfall deficit, while March 2026 recorded thunderstorm on 12 days, hail on 7 days and a peak gusty wind of 68 kmph. These patterns indicate that climate change in Jharkhand is showing not only as warming but as increasing atmospheric instability. The agricultural impact includes risk to rice, rabi crops, vegetables and horticultural plantations through delayed sowing, waterlogging, hail damage, drying problems and yield instability. Adaptation strategies include weatherbased crop planning, crop diversification, short-duration varieties, rainwater harvesting and real-time agrometeorological advisories.
The biology of L. pseudobrassicae were studied on different three brassica hosts viz., knol-khol (Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes), broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) and cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) under laboratory conditions. The total life span ranged from 15.40 ± 2.16, 15.44 ± 2.57, and 14.56 ± 2.10 days on knol-khol, broccoli and cauliflower, respectively. The total nymphal period was highest on knol-khol (7.40 ± 1.00 days) and lowest on cauliflower (6.52 ± 0.92 days). The pre-reproductive period (1.28 ± 0.46, 1.32 ± 0.48 & 1.24 ± 0.44 days), reproductive period (6.08 ± 1.29, 6.24 ± 1.13 & 5.84 ± 0.85 days) and post-reproductive period (1.32 ± 0.48, 1.44 ± 0.51 & 1.24 ± 0.44 days) was recorded on knol-khol, broccoli and cauliflower, respectively. The longevity period (8.86 ± 1.41, 9.00 ± 1.22 & 8.32 ± 1.18 days) was observed on knol-khol, broccoli and cauliflower, respectively.
Cruciferous crops are an integral part of global food and nutritional security, but they are increasingly challenged by complex disease scenarios involving multiple pathogens. Among various pathogens attacking the crop, simultaneous occurrence of various plant viruses and virus with phytoplasmas have emerged as significant threat for production of the crops. Traditionally the pathogens were studied in isolation but now these pathogens are recognized to frequently co infect crops, giving rise to intricate disease expressions that are often overlooked. Such mixed infections can enhance disease severity, disrupt normal plant functions and lead to substantial yield and quality loss. This review brings together the current knowledge on the prevalence and epidemiology of virus - virus and virus-phytoplasma mixed infections in cruciferous crops. The challenges associated with symptom-based diagnosis and the need for advanced molecular tools for accurate detection are discussed. The shift in the perspective from single pathogen to a more complex understanding of disease occurrence emphasizes the need to adopt holistic approaches in research and crop protection. Addressing the mixed infections is essential not only for improving the disease management but also ensuring sustainable production of cruciferous crops in changing ecosystems.
A field experiment was conducted during Rabi 2019-20 at the College Farm, N.M. College of Agriculture, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat, to Screening of different twelve genotypes (VNMP-118, VNMP-218, VNMP-318, VNMP-418, VNMP-518, VNMP-618, VNMP-718, VNMP-818, RCR-317, GNNIG-3, Gujarat Niger (GN)-1, Gujarat Niger (GN) -2) of niger against niger aphid, U. compositae. Out of twelve tested genotypes/varieties of niger, the lowest population was recorded on VNMP - 418 (14.28 aphids/leaf) and Gujarat Niger-1 (14.59 aphids/leaf). Both genotypes/varieties were categorized as resistant against niger aphid, U. compositae. The remaining genotypes/varieties viz., VNMP - 518, RCR - 317 and variety Gujarat Niger - 2 were found moderately resistant. Genotypes/varieties viz., GNNIG - 3, VNMP - 118 and VNMP - 318 were categorized as susceptible with maximum aphid population.
A field experiment was conducted during the summer season of 2024 at Dusty Acre Farm, Jabalpur, to assess the response of soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) varieties to graded levels of phosphorus in conjunction with phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB). The experiment was laid out in a Factorial Randomized Block Design with four replications, comprising three varieties (V1) JS 20-34, (V2) JS 20- 98 and (V3) JS 20-116 and six phosphorus management treatments. The results indicated that variety (V3) JS 20-116exhibited significantly superior performance in terms of growth parameters, yield attributes and productivity, recording the highest seed yield (1354 kg ha-1) and stover yield (2052 kg ha1 ). Among phosphorus treatments, application of 100% recommended dose of NPK along with seed treatment and soil application of PSB (P₆) resulted in a marked enhancement in growth, reproductive traits and yield, producing seed and stover yields of 1212 and 1823 kg ha-1, respectively. The interaction effect between varieties and phosphorus levels was found to be significant, with (V3) JS 20-116 in combination with P₆ (100% Recommended Dose of N, P and K + seed Treatment with PSB + soil application of PSB @ 5 kg ha-1) registering the highest seed yield (1649 kg ha-1). The findings underscore the synergistic role of phosphorus fertilization and PSB inoculation in augmenting nutrient availability and crop productivity.
A field experiment was conducted during the kharif season of 2021 at the Agronomy Research Farm of Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh), to optimize Moisture Regimes and Weed Control for Sustainable and Profitable Drum-Seeded Rice Production. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design, replicated thrice, with three moisture regimes i.e 6 cm irrigation at 1, 4 and 7 days after the disappearance of ponded water (DADPW) in the main plots and five weed management practices i.e weed free, rice-straw mulch @ 3 t ha-1, pretilachlor (PE) @ 0.75 kg a.i. ha-1 followed by bispyribac-sodium 10% SC @ 200 mL ha-1 (PoE), two hand weedings (20–25 and 40–45 DAS) and a weedy check in the sub-plots, using the variety NDR 2065. Among the main-plot treatments, irrigation of 6 cm at 1 DADPW recorded the highest grain yield (47.5 q ha-1), at par with 6 cm at 4 DADPW (45.7 q ha-1), together with the maximum tillers, dry-matter accumulation, leaf-area index and water-use efficiency (3.1 kg ha-1 mm), the lowest values being under 6 cm at 7 DADPW. Among the sub-plot treatments, the weed-free plots gave the highest grain yield (50.1 q ha-1), closely followed by two hand weedings (48.2 q ha-1) and pretilachlor followed by bispyribacsodium (46.9 q ha-1; weed-control efficiency 91.4%, weed index 6.4%), whereas the weedy check recorded the lowest (33.8 q ha-1). The interaction of 6 cm at 1 DADPW with pretilachlor followed by bispyribac-sodium (I₁W₃) recorded the highest net return (Rs. 80,783 ha-1) and benefit–cost ratio (1.94), and is recommended for profitable, water-efficient drum-seeded rice.
The physical and engineering properties of organic manures play a crucial role in determining their flow behaviour and metering performance during mechanized application. This study evaluated the suitability of four organic manures-compost, vermicompost, dry spent biogas slurry, and municipal solid waste (MSW) compost for an auger type metering mechanism. The selected manures were characterized for moisture content, bulk density, tapped density, particle size, angle of repose, and coefficient of static friction. To ensure uniform testing conditions, the moisture content of all materials was maintained at 25% (w.b.) before laboratory evaluation. A laboratory prototype of an auger-type metering mechanism was tested at different auger speeds to assess discharge rate, discharge per revolution, and discharge uniformity. Compost exhibited the best metering performance, with the highest average discharge rate (4.39 kg min-1), discharge per revolution (0.130 kg rev-1), and the lowest coefficient of variation (2.48%), indicating excellent flowability and discharge uniformity. Dry spent biogas slurry and vermicompost showed satisfactory performance, whereas MSW compost exhibited poor flowability and inconsistent discharge. One-way ANOVA confirmed that auger speed significantly influenced manure discharge (p < 0.05). The findings demonstrate that the physical and engineering properties of organic manures strongly affect auger metering performance and provide a scientific basis for selecting suitable manure and designing efficient auger-based applicators for uniform manure application and improved nutrient-use efficiency in sustainable agriculture.
Cropping system diversification plays a crucial role in sustaining soil health and enhancing nutrient availability in the Indo-Gangetic Plains. A field experiment was conducted during 2023–24 and 2024–25 at the Student’s Instructional Farm of Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, under the All India Coordinated Research Project on Integrated Farming Systems. In order to determine the effects of ten different cropping systems on the chemical characteristics of the soil and the availability of nutrients, the study used a randomized block design with four replications. The findings showed that cropping systems had a moderate impact on the electrical conductivity and pH of the soil, both of which stayed within safe bounds for all treatments. Nonetheless, under legume-based systems, notable gains in soil organic carbon and nutrient availability were noted. In addition to having the best available nitrogen (239.02 kg ha-1), phosphorus (16.22 kg ha-1), and potassium (227.90 kg ha-1), the Blackgram–Chickpea + Mustard system (CSSc3) also had the greatest organic carbon (0.52%). These gains were ascribed to rhizosphere acidification, improved biomass addition, biological nitrogen fixation, and effective nutrient recycling. The traditional rice-wheat system, on the other hand, showed comparatively poorer soil fertility. The results show that adding legumes to cropping systems greatly enhances soil health and nutrient dynamics, providing the Indo-Gangetic Plains with a viable substitute for conventional cereal-based systems.
