Drought triggers a series of physiological and biochemical changes at the stomatal, mesophyll and chloroplast levels, which are linked and integrated into a finely tuned regulatory network that determines plant photosynthetic acclimation and drought tolerance. In this regard, stomatal regulation acts as the primary control, regulating aperture adjustment, density and kinetics, helping to establish the level of carbon dioxide (CO₂) influx in response to hydraulic signals, abscisic acid (ABA) signalling and root-to-shoot chemical messengers. Besides stomata, mesophyll conductance (gm) is considered a decisive factor for CO₂ diffusion influenced by changes in cell wall porosity, membrane permeability, aquaporin (AQP) activity and chloroplast positioning. At the chloroplast level, drought modulates ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) activation by dissipating energy through the reorganisation of the thylakoid electron transport, use of alternative electron sinks and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) to prevent photoinhibition and oxidative damage. The coordinated interplay between these regulatory levels allows plants to adjust their photosynthetic rate (Pn) by dynamically balancing the trade-off between carbon assimilation and water conservation. Gaining insight into this multi-scale integration is critical not only for forecasting plant responses to the escalating drought but also for conceiving the targeted interventions. This article goes a step further in integrating present knowledge on stomatal-mesophyll-chloroplast communication to illustrate how the literature collected can be utilised for breeding and other strategies to enhance water-use efficiency (WUE) and drought resilience in crop systems.
The field study was conducted during the rabi season of 2024–25. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) consisting of 10 treatments and 3 replications, along with a control. The results revealed that integrated nutrient management (INM) significantly enhanced nutrient uptake, as well as the growth, yield and quality characteristics of Indian mustard. The application of 100 % recommended dose of fertiliser (RDF) + farmyard manure (FYM) at 2 t ha-1 + vermicompost at 0.6 t ha-1 resulted in higher plant growth parameters as such plant height (216.03 cm), number of primary branches per plant (8.83), number of secondary branches per plant (18.56) and leaf area index (LAI) (0.97). Moreover, the higher yield and quality parameters of mustard were documented under same treatment, which included higher number of siliqua per plant (618.70), number of seeds per siliqua (14.86), test weight (4.61g), harvest index (38 %), seed yield (2569.67 kg ha-1), stover yield per ha (4192.67 kg ha-1), biological yield (6762.33 kg ha-1), oil content (37.95 %), oil yield (975.71 kg ha-1), protein content (19.44 %) and protein yield (499.77 kg ha-1). Furthermore, treatment T7 enhanced the nutrient availability in seed (nitrogen (N): 3.50, phosphorous (P): 0.62, potassium (K): 0.97 and S: 0.40 kg ha-1) and stover (N: 0.48, P: 0.24, K: 0.41 and S: 0.24 kg ha-1). Similarly, higher nutrient uptake was recorded in seed (N: 90.04, P: 15.94, K: 24.94 and S: 10.29 kg ha-1) and stover (N: 20.15, P: 9.93, K: 17.35 and S: 9.93 kg ha-1) under same treatment. In contrast, minimum values for all these characteristics were observed in the treatment T1 (Control). The main aim of this investigation was to evaluate the impact of INM practices on nutrients availability, nutrients uptake, growth, yield, quality characteristics of mustard (Brassica juncea L.) in light-texture soils. The findings of this investigation revealed that treatment T7 was found to be the most effective nutrient management practice and to identify suitable INM strategies for sustainable mustard cultivation.
Sago palm is one of the few crops that are well-adapted in peatlands, while producing starch in substantial amount. It is primarily propagated using suckers. Small-sized suckers are commonly used for large-scale establishment because they are more abundantly available than larger ones. However, their survival rates often fall below 90 % during subsequent growth. In this paper, we aimed to study the use of NAA (naphthalene acetic acid) in sago palm suckers, emphasising the promotion of shoot and root during subsequent growth, as well as its effect on survival rate. The results showed that 1 ppm NAA successfully promoted the number of newly produced fronds, number of small and large roots and the total length of small roots, leading to higher shoot and root biomass than the control. This treatment slightly improved the survival rate (73.33 %), but it was below our expected result, exceeding 90 %. It was comparatively better than the control (66.67 %), even at 10 (60 %) and 50 (26.67 %) ppm. Application of 10 and 50 ppm NAA inhibited rooting activity, particularly the number of small roots and the total length of small and large roots, leading to a reduction in root biomass. These treatments did not even improve shoot biomass in comparison to the control. In conclusion, a low concentration of 1 ppm NAA appears effective in promoting the subsequent growth.
Sorghum is an important crop owing to its adaptability to diverse climatic conditions and its capacity to provide grain, forage, and ground cover. We aimed to evaluate the agronomic response of sorghum to different soil textures and seeding densities. The experiment was conducted in the district of Loma Plata during the 2023 and 2024 growing seasons. A randomized complete block design was used, arranged in a factorial scheme of year × texture × density with three replications. The treatments included two soil textures (sandy and sandy clay loam) and five sorghum seeding densities (2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 seeds per meter of row). Vegetative and yield-related traits were assessed. The means were subjected to a normality test and subsequently to analysis of variance. When significant effects were identified, treatment means were compared using Tukey’s test. A significant interaction was observed between soil texture and seeding density in terms of the number of tillers per hill, leaf-to-stem ratio, and panicle weight. In 2023, the greatest plant height was recorded in sandy clay loam (SCL) at 32 seeds per meter of row (SPMR), although high seeding density reduced the number of tillers in both soil textures. In 2024, SCL at 16 SPMR produced the highest above-ground biomass yield, while S at 8 SPMR achieved the highest grain yield and the best grain-to-dry-mass ratio. The combination of SCL and 8 SPMR favored the leaf-to-stem ratio, whereas S at 16 SPMR generated the highest percentage of panicle weight. Overall, sorghum growth and productivity varied according to soil texture, seeding density, and seasonal environmental conditions, indicating that plant population management should be adjusted according to soil and climatic conditions.
The present investigation evaluated the interactive effects of biofertilisers and Jeevamrit on the physicochemical and biochemical fruit quality traits of guava (Psidium guajava L.) cv. G-27. A field experiment was conducted over 2 years (2023–24 and 2024–25) at Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (RVSKVV), Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India, using a factorial randomised block design (FRBD) comprising 16 treatment combinations (4 biofertiliser levels × 4 Jeevamrit levels) with 3 replications on 10-year-old guava trees. Biofertiliser treatments consisted of graded doses of Azotobacter, phosphate-solubilising bacteria (PSB) and potassium solubilising bacteria (KSB), applied at 0, 200, 250 and 300 mL tree-1, in combination with Jeevamrit levels of 0, 1.90, 2.50 and 3.125 L tree-1. The integrated treatment T₁₆ (Azotobacter 300 mL tree-1 + PSB 300 mL tree-1 + KSB 300 mL tree-1 + Jeevamrit 3.125 L tree-1), applied at the pea stage, resulted in the highest total soluble solids (11.48 °Brix), ascorbic acid (160.10 mg 100 g-1 pulp) and total sugars (11.39 %), along with enhanced pulp weight (249.91 g) and bioactive compound content, while recording the lowest titratable acidity (0.17 %). These improvements are attributed to microbially mediated nutrient mobilisation through nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium solubilisation, enhanced assimilate partitioning to fruits and the activation of antioxidant metabolism driven by microbial metabolites and phytohormones. The pooled results confirm the effectiveness of integrated biofertiliser-biostimulant application in improving guava fruit quality under sustainable nutrient management.
Mugwort belongs to the genus Artemisia, which has over 400 species globally, presenting challenges in accurate species identification. Artemisia argyi H.Lév. & Vaniot is a medicinal plant distributed in Europe and Asia that is recorded in the Pharmacopoeia. Artemisia indica Willd. is another mugwort species widely cultivated and used by East Asians. To date, no systematic studies have compared these two plants. This study aims to establish rapid methods to differentiate between them and analyse differences in biological activities. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) analysis revealed a band characteristic of A. indica with Rf = 0.43. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) results showed that oxygenated terpenes (69.2 %) were abundant in A. indica, whereas hydrocarbon terpenes (60.0 %) were abundant in A. argyi. The TLC-bioautography showed that the amount and type of antibacterial compounds between the two herbs are similar. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of both Artemisia species against Escherichia coli is 19 mg/mL. However, results of TLC-direct bioautography show that the antibacterial activity of A. indica is stronger than that of A. argyi. The water extract of A. indica, rather than A. argyi, stimulated the mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) growth by 20 % and exhibited anti-aging activity against MSC senescence induced by D-galactose.
Reduction in pulse production is often attributed to excessive flower drop and poor pod setting during the reproductive phase. This loss is mainly caused by nutrient deficiencies or hormonal imbalance or combined effect of factors environmental stress. Foliar application of balanced nutrients/hormonal imbalance effectively minimise flower drop by improving plant nutrition and hormonal balance. As a result, it enhances pod formation and ultimately boosts overall yield in pulse crops. A field experiment was conducted during the rabi (2023–24) at the experimental farm, School of Agricultural Sciences, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore. The experiment was conducted in randomized block design (RBD) with 8 treatments and it was replicated thrice. The results shows that application of 100 % recommended dose of fertiliser (RDF) + 12.5 t ha-1 farmyard manure (FYM) + foliar application of 5 kg Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) pulse wonder per hectare mixed with 500 L of water applied during the flowering stage registered higher growth parameter, yield attributes and economic analysis.
Leguminous crops are crucial to sustainable agriculture and the second most important crop group after grasses (Poaceae). Greengram (Vigna radiata (L.) R.Wilczek) and black gram (Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper) are widely cultivated pulse crops across Asia during kharif, rabi and summer. Despite their agronomic and nutritional importance, productivity is often constrained by abiotic and biotic stresses. Continuous monocropping and intensive cultivation increase legume vulnerability to pathogens. Fungal diseases are a major constraint, causing approximately 10–25 % yield losses in legume crops. Foliar diseases also significantly reduce yield depending on crop growth stage, pathogen virulence, disease severity and prevailing environmental conditions. Important foliar diseases affecting Vigna species include anthracnose, Cercospora leaf spot and Corynespora leaf spot. The present study aimed to evaluate the pathogenicity of two important fungal pathogens, Colletotrichum truncatum (MTCC 2110) and Cercospora canescens (MTCC 10835), responsible for anthracnose and Cercospora leaf spot diseases, respectively. A pot experiment was conducted using commonly cultivated varieties of Vigna in Rajasthan, including V. radiata (MH1142 and IPM-205-7) and V. mungo (Pant Urad 31 and Kota Urad 3). Inoculation with the respective pathogens was performed and disease severity was assessed using the percent disease index (PDI). The results revealed variability in disease susceptibility among the tested cultivars. Vigna mungo cv. KU-3 exhibited comparatively lower disease severity against C. canescens with a percent disease index (PDI) of 24.50 ± 1.42, while Vigna radiata cv. IPM-205-7 showed lower susceptibility to Colletotrichum truncatum with a PDI of 48.77 ± 1.23. The fungal pathogens were re-isolated and molecular characterisation was done using universal primer (ITS 1F and ITS 4R) and the obtained sequences were submitted to National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). These findings suggest that these cultivars may be suitable for cultivation in regions of Rajasthan where the respective foliar diseases are prevalent. The use of resistant cultivars provides an effective and ecofriendly sustainable strategy for disease management and reducing dependence on chemical fungicides.
Rice cultivation is increasingly constrained by stagnant yields, diminishing profit margins and escalating pest pressures. These interrelated challenges compromise both crop productivity and economic viability. To address this, the adoption of integrated agronomic strategies is essential. The precise application of micronutrients and biostimulants has been shown to improve physiological efficiency, enhance nutrient-use efficiency and activate plant defence responses, thereby contributing to increased yield performance, economic returns and pest resilience under sustainable production systems. Therefore, a field study was carried out during the 2024 kuruvai season (June–September) at the Experimental Farm of the Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu. To assess the treatment effects, the experiment followed a split-plot design with 3 replications. The main plot treatments consisted of four micronutrient regimes: an untreated control (M₁), zinc sulphate (ZnSO4) applied at 25 kg ha-1 (M₂), diatomaceous earth applied at 50 kg ha-1 as a silicon source (M₃) and a combined application of ZnSO4 at 25 kg ha-1 and diatomaceous earth at 50 kg ha-1 (M₄). The subplot treatments consisted of four biostimulant regimes: an untreated control (S₁), humic acid applied at 0.3 % (S₂), seaweed extract applied at 0.3 % (S₃) and vermiwash applied at 5 % (S₄). Among all treatment combinations, the application of ZnSO₄ at 25 kg ha-1 along with diatomaceous earth at 50 kg ha-1, supplemented by foliar sprays of seaweed extract (0.3 %) at 20 and 40 days after transplanting (DAT) (M₄S₃), recorded the highest grain yield (6270 kg ha-1) and straw yield (8783 kg ha-1), resulting in the maximum net income (₹89209.5 ha-1) and benefit-cost ratio (2.44). The treatment also significantly reduced leaf folder incidence to 0.81 %, indicating enhanced productivity, profitability and pest tolerance.
Custard apple (Annona squamosa L.) is a highly nutritious yet underutilised fruit owing to its seasonal availability and short postharvest life. The present study aimed to develop a shelf-stable instant ready-to-serve (RTS) beverage mix using spray-dried custard apple powder and banana powder and to evaluate its physicochemical, sensory, microbial and economic characteristics during ambient storage. Six formulations containing varying proportions of custard apple powder (5.0–17.5 %) and banana powder (15.0–2.5 %) were prepared, packed in aluminium (Al) pouches and stored under ambient conditions for 90 days. The formulations were analysed at monthly intervals for moisture content, water activity, proximate composition, sugar profile, sensory attributes, microbial quality and economic feasibility. Storage resulted in a gradual increase in moisture content, water activity, reducing sugars and total sugars, whereas carbohydrate, protein, fat, ash and non-reducing sugar contents decreased slightly over time. Significant differences (p ≤ 0.01) were observed among formulations for both physicochemical and sensory characteristics. The formulation containing 10 % custard apple powder and 10 % banana powder (T3) exhibited the most desirable quality attributes, with superior colour and appearance, mouthfeel, taste and overall acceptability throughout storage. Furthermore, no bacterial or fungal growth was detected in any treatment during the 90 days storage period, indicating excellent microbiological stability. Although the formulation containing 5 % custard apple powder and 15 % banana powder generated the highest economic returns, the 10 : 10 blend demonstrated the best balance between nutritional quality, sensory acceptability and storage stability. Overall, the findings demonstrate that spray-dried custard apple powder can be successfully utilised in the development of a shelf-stable instant RTS beverage mix, offering a promising value-addition strategy for the commercial utilisation of custard apple fruits.
Emerging contaminants (ECs), such as pharmaceuticals, microplastics (MPs), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDC) and heavy metals, are progressively affecting soil ecosystems through multiple inputs such as wastewater irrigation, biosolid amendment, agricultural runoff and atmospheric deposition. Despite their widespread occurrence, ECs are rarely incorporated into regular soil monitoring frameworks and remain mainly unregulated. Their persistent accumulation disrupts fundamental soil physicochemical characteristics, microbial community composition, soil-plant interactions, ultimately threatening ecosystem functions. Conventional ecotoxicological techniques lack the mechanistic precision necessary to capture the systemic, multi-scale changes that ECs cause throughout biological hierarchies. Multi-omics approaches, integrating metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, metaproteomics and metabolomics, have enabled comprehensive, system-level insights into EC-induced perturbations at the genetic, transcriptional, protein and metabolic levels. This review synthesises recent advances in the application of multi-omics to unravel the impacts of ECs on soil microbial communities, with a particular focus on changes in taxonomic structure, functional gene expression, enzymatic activities and metabolic pathways. Despite the transformative potential of multi-omics for ecological risk assessment and bioremediation, challenges such as data integration and dimensionality, standardisation and interpretation persist. Furthermore, substantial variability in analytical workflows and dependence on non-soil reference databases restrict inter-study comparability and practical application. Continued advancements will hinge on standardised methodologies, open-access soil databases, artificial intelligence (AI) driven data integration and long-term field investigations to enhance the reproducibility and ecological relevance. Integrating multi-omics with geospatial modelling and decision-support systems provides a pathway for translating molecular insights into actionable strategies for sustainable soil management and ecosystem restoration in the face of ECs.
Forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench), a climate-resilient, drought-tolerant fodder crop with high adaptability and biomass potential, plays a significant role in addressing global livestock feed and fodder demands. However, its complex quantitative quality traits, such as crude protein, fibre fractions, crude fat, lignin and antinutritional factors like hydrogen cyanide (HCN) content, show considerable variation across genotypes and are strongly influenced by developmental stage, management practices and environmental conditions. This review comprehensively summarises the genetic and molecular strategies for improving forage quality traits in sorghum, highlighting key trait relationships, yield-quality trade-offs, harvesting effects and emerging genomic tools to accelerate the development of nutritionally superior and safer forage sorghum cultivars. Conventional breeding programs have contributed to the development of improved forage sorghum cultivars. Brown midrib lines have emerged as a successful breeding strategy, with average neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) contents of 57.5 % and 33.67 % dry matter (DM), compared to 59.45 % and 36.51 % DM in conventional varieties. However, this is often accompanied by biomass yield penalties of approximately 14.33 %. Recent advances in molecular breeding, such as functional genomics, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping, marker-assisted selection and antisense-mediated downregulation, have enabled the precise identification of the genetic architecture of forage quality traits. In particular, QTL mapping uncovered 43 overlapping QTLs controlling various forage quality traits and biomass traits, demonstrating their interconnections and possibilities for their simultaneous improvement. The identified candidate genes and pleiotropic loci controlling forage quality traits offer new opportunities for genomic-assisted improvement, where gene-editing tools such as CRISPR/Cas9 can simultaneously enhance feed safety, biomass yields and nutritional quality.
Cotton (Gossypium spp.) is one of the world’s most important fibre crops, yet its sustainability is increasingly challenged by evolving pest complexes, intensified pesticide use, climate change and climate variability. The evidence indicates current knowledge on pest dynamics, pesticide dependence and ecological interactions in cotton agroecosystems, highlighting the shift from bollworm-dominated pest complexes to the increasing prevalence of secondary pests following the widespread adoption of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton. Although Bt (Cry toxin)-based transgenic cotton technology initially reduced insecticide use against the bollworm complex, primarily lepidopteran species, the emergence of resistance among bollworms and the upsurge of certain sucking pests in recent decades have reinstated insecticide dependence for pest management. This has led to ecological imbalance, non-target toxicity, the decline of pollinator populations and natural enemy communities, biodiversity loss, environmental contamination, accumulation of residues in products and yield challenges, in addition to increased production costs. The review emphasises the critical role of integrated pest management (IPM) strategies that integrate biological control, habitat diversification, resistant cultivars and threshold-based pesticide applications to restore ecological stability. Alternative approaches such as botanical pesticides, nanoformulations and plant volatile-mediated pest regulation are highlighted as promising tools for sustainable pest control. Advances in precision agriculture, including artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based pesticide delivery systems, have the potential to improve pest surveillance and reduce chemical inputs. Supply-chain procurement, certification, traceability and consumer demand can encourage lower-pesticide production, although these mechanisms require fair price incentives to avoid transferring compliance costs to smallholders. Sustainable cotton therefore requires region-specific, climate-resilient, evidence-based IPM supported by extension, market incentives, resistance monitoring and coordinated policy.
Agricultural waste, traditionally regarded as a by-product of farming systems, is increasingly recognised as a valuable bioresource with significant potential to support sustainable agriculture and circular bioeconomy transitions. Globally, agricultural activities generate approximately 5–6 billion tonnes of biomass residues annually, yet a substantial proportion remains underutilised or is disposed of through environmentally harmful practices such as open-field burning, leading to nutrient losses, soil degradation and greenhouse gas emissions. This review provides a comprehensive and integrative synthesis of solid agricultural biomass valorisation pathways, focusing on the classification, physicochemical characteristics and resource potential of diverse waste streams, including crop residues, livestock wastes and agro-industrial by-products such as pressmud, bagasse and bone sludge. Major conversion technologies, including biological processes (composting and anaerobic digestion), thermochemical approaches (pyrolysis, gasification and combustion) and integrated biorefinery systems, are critically reviewed. A comparative assessment based on environmental performance, economic feasibility and operational complexity highlights key sustainability trade-offs, particularly regarding soil carbon dynamics, nutrient cycling and competing biomass uses. Biological approaches are suitable for decentralised and low-cost applications, whereas thermochemical and integrated systems offer enhanced energy recovery, scalability and carbon sequestration potential. The review integrates technological, environmental and economic perspectives within a unified analytical framework, with particular emphasis on underutilised agro-industrial residues such as bone sludge. Despite significant advancements, large-scale adoption remains constrained by techno-economic limitations, infrastructural gaps and limited long-term field validation. The study underscores the need for integrated, context-specific and policy-supported strategies to enable efficient biomass utilisation and sustainable resource recovery within circular bioeconomy systems.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative technology for crop disease detection and management by enabling rapid, accurate and automated disease diagnosis to support sustainable agricultural production. This study presents a bibliometric analysis of global research trends in AI-based crop disease detection and management from 2016 to 2026. Bibliographic data were retrieved from the Scopus database using a structured search strategy. A total of 3729 records were initially identified and 605 publications were retained after applying predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Bibliometric indicators and VOSviewer software were employed to analyse annual publication trends, leading contributors, collaboration networks, keyword co-occurrence patterns, bibliographic coupling relationships and co-citation structures. The results reveal a substantial increase in research output, particularly after 2021, indicating growing scientific interest in AI-enabled crop protection technologies. Keyword analysis identified deep learning, machine learning, computer vision, transfer learning and plant disease detection as the dominant research themes. In contrast, co-authorship and co-citation analyses revealed strong international collaboration and a well-established intellectual foundation.
The present study was undertaken to isolate, screen and evaluate zinc-solubilising bacteria (ZnSB) from lentil rhizosphere and root nodules and to assess their individual and consortium effects on plant growth, yield, micronutrient biofortification and soil nutrient status. A total of 120 rhizospheric soil and 62 root samples were collected from RPCAU research farms at Pusa and Dholi, yielding 157 bacterial isolates. Among these, 127 rhizospheric and 30 nodule isolates were screened for zinc solubilisation using zinc oxide (ZnO) and zinc carbonate (ZnCO₃) as zinc sources. The ZnO was the most preferred substrate, with Zn solubilisation efficiency (Zn-SE) ranging from 25.00 to 416.70 in rhizospheric (Rh) isolates and 57.10 to 357.10 in nodule (Nd) isolates. The most efficient isolates (Rh-ZnSB 38, Rh-ZnSB 60, Rh-ZnSB 90 and Nd-ZnSB 1) also exhibited multiple plant growth-promoting traits, including phosphate and potassium solubilisation, siderophore production, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and gibberellic acid (GA) synthesis and ammonia production and were found to be highly compatible with each other. Based on these traits, a microbial consortium was developed. Seed germination studies revealed that combined inoculation of Nd-ZnSB 1 with the Rh-ZnSB consortium resulted in 100 % germination and the highest seed vigour index, indicating strong synergistic effects. Pot experiments further demonstrated that ZnSB consortia significantly enhanced plant growth and nodulation. Plant height ranged from 30.60–38.80 cm at 45 days after sowing (DAS) and 42.10–57.90 cm at 90 DAS, while nodules varied from 18.50–38.90 plant-1 at 45 DAS and 24.30–45.60 plant-1 at 90 DAS, with consortium treatment T₇ consistently outperforming other treatments. Yield attributes were also markedly improved by ZnSB consortia. The number of pods per plant ranged from 50.00 to 75.00, seeds per plant from 69.00 to 130.00, 100-seed weight from 2.40 to 5.30 g and grain yield from 15.00 to 30.00 g pot-1, with maximum values recorded under consortium treatments. Grain biofortification was significantly enhanced, with Zn content ranging from 21.40 to 46.80 mg kg-1 and iron from 62.50 to 102.30 mg kg-1. In addition, ZnSB consortia improved soil fertility by increasing available nitrogen (0.78–1.18 g kg-1), phosphorus (0.32–0.64 g kg-1), potassium (1.15–1.56 g kg-1), organic carbon (0.42–0.66 %) and DTPA-extractable Zn and Fe.
Phosphorus (P), a crucial macronutrient for plant growth, is severely limited to Inceptisols due to its fixation by calcium (Ca), iron (Fe) and aluminium oxides (Al2O3), which renders it insoluble and unavailable for plant uptake. An experimental investigation involving soil incubation was conducted to examine the transformation of phosphorus (P) fractions in Inceptisol soil. Seven treatments were evaluated: absolute control, control and potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH₂PO₄) at 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 ppm. Soil samples were collected at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 days of incubation. Phosphorus fractions and total P were determined using appropriate analytical methods, including the molybdenum blue spectrophotometric method for total P. Phosphorus fractions were significantly affected by both P concentration and incubation period. Soluble P initially increased and subsequently decreased, indicating its transformation into less-soluble forms. Stable P fractions, including calcium phosphate, iron-bound P and non-labile P gradually increased during the incubation period. Maximum P availability was observed on day 20. Principal component analysis (PCA) confirmed distinct clustering of the stable P fractions. Correlation analysis revealed strong positive relationships among the stable P fractions, whereas negative relationships were observed between soluble and stable P fractions. These findings indicate that the Inceptisol had a strong capacity to fix applied P into stable forms, suggesting that split or slow-release P fertilisation strategies, timed according to crop demand, may be necessary to sustain plant-available P and improve fertiliser-use efficiency in such soils.
A field experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of high density and nutrient management practices on physiology, nutrient uses and productivity of maize during 2017 and 2018. This study was carried out by using cultivar Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) maize hybrid CO H (M) 6. Treatments include control, combinations of four plant populations (66666, 74074, 83333 and 133333 plants ha-1) with different fertiliser doses (100 %, 125 %, 150 % and 200 % recommended dose of fertilisers (RDF)). The results showed that the control (66666 plants ha-1 with 100 % RDF) significantly increased the photosynthesis rate and light interception of maize. Irrespective of plant density, the soil plant analysis development (SPAD) value increased with increasing nutrient doses, whereas nutrient use efficiencies decreased. Grain and stover yield of maize were higher under the highest plant density (133333 plants ha-1) and nutrient level (200 % RDF). An increase of 34.81 % and 36.62 % in grain yield was recorded with this treatment compared with the control in 2017 and 2018, respectively. These findings indicate that, to meet the increasing demand for maize driven by a growing human population and to enhance productivity under high-density cultivation, a plant population of 133333 plants ha-1 with 200 % RDF is a viable option under irrigated conditions.
Pharmaceutical residues are increasingly recognised as persistent environmental contaminants, with soils acting as both sinks and secondary sources following their entry through wastewater irrigation, biosolid application and improper disposal. Pharmacological properties and soil characteristics interact in shaping the environmental fate of these compounds and the mechanisms governing sorption and desorption largely determine their mobility, persistence and bioavailability in soil systems. Compound-specific characteristics such as ionisation state, hydrophobicity, molecular structure and functional groups, together with soil properties including pH, organic matter content, texture, mineralogy, cation exchange capacity, moisture, ionic strength and redox conditions, strongly influence pharmaceutical behaviour in soils. Partial and hysteretic release can prolong environmental persistence and expose soil microorganisms and plants to sustained low-dose contamination, even where substantial retention initially limits transport. Such exposure has been linked to shifts in microbial community structure, suppression of key soil enzymes, disrupted nutrient cycling and accumulation of antibiotic resistance genes, threatening soil fertility and health. Uptake and translocation of residues into edible crops further raise concerns for food safety and human health. Critically, current risk assessment frameworks remain limited because they inadequately account for chemical mixtures, transformation products and integrated soil-plant-microbial interactions, a gap compounded by the scarcity of long-term, field-scale data and studies addressing combined effects of co-occurring pollutants. This review synthesises recent evidence on soil-pharmaceutical interactions to address that gap and highlights the need for integrated mitigation strategies including soil amendments, microbial degradation, phytoremediation and improved wastewater treatment for the long-term management of pharmaceutically contaminated soils.
Livestock farming significantly contributes to India's agricultural sector by supporting rural livelihoods, food and nutritional security, employment and sustainable farming practices. India supports approximately 536.7 million livestock; however, only about 4 % of its cultivable land is devoted to fodder production, resulting in a persistent shortage of quality feed resources. The fodder demand–supply gap has widened due to limited land available for fodder cultivation, degradation of grazing lands, competition with food crops and limited access to improved fodder technologies. Irregular rainfall, droughts and declining forage productivity and quality have further exacerbated these challenges under changing climatic conditions. Reliance on low-quality crop residues and inadequate feed preservation practices adversely affects animal health, livestock productivity and farmers' income. This review synthesises recent advances in sustainable forage production systems, fodder conservation technologies and climate-resilient strategies to identify approaches for improving fodder security and resilient livestock production. It examines the role of quality fodder in improving the efficiency of current livestock production systems by enhancing milk production, reproductive performance and feed-use efficiency, while identifying key challenges, including weak forage seed systems, inadequate extension services and limited policy support. The review concludes that diversified forage systems, improved fodder conservation practices, rehabilitation of grazing resources and integrated crop–livestock systems are essential for strengthening fodder security and ensuring sustainable livestock production in India.
