Rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium graveolens L.) is a valuable crop with widespread applications in the fragrance, cosmetic, and flavor industries. Despite its global significance, India faces a deficit in the production of geranium essential oil. Moreover, geranium cultivation in water-limited regions often results in reduced essential oil yields. Addressing this shortfall requires the adoption of sustainable agronomic practices, particularly improved water and nutrient management strategies, to boost productivity. Drip-irrigation offers a sustainable approach by improving water-use efficiency and increasing crop yields. In addition, excessive reliance on chemical fertilizers adversely affects soil health. Integrated nutrient management (INM), which combines organic and inorganic fertilizers, has been shown to improve soil properties and enhance overall crop productivity. Therefore, to optimize geranium production in the foothills of Uttarakhand, a field experiment was conducted for the first time to evaluate the effects of two factors: (i) irrigation method (drip vs. flood irrigation) and (ii) nutrient management strategies (different combinations of nutrient sources), comprised sixteen treatment combinations at CSIR-CIMAP, RC, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India. Its objective was to identify the most suitable production strategy for geranium cultivation. Statistical analysis showed that INM significantly outperformed (by > 20
Methane (CH4) is a potent, short-lived greenhouse gas. Among the major well-mixed greenhouse gases, it ranks second only to carbon dioxide (CO2) in its contribution to anthropogenic radiative forcing. Although methane remains in the atmosphere for approximately 12 years, its 100-year global warming potential (GWP100) is approximately 27–30 times greater than that of CO2 (IPCC AR6), making rapid mitigation a critical near-term climate strategy. This review synthesizes current understanding of methane emissions from anthropogenic and natural sources, evaluates sector-specific mitigation potentials, and critically examines emerging reduction technologies. Fossil fuel extraction, agriculture (particularly enteric fermentation), and waste management collectively account for the majority of anthropogenic methane emissions, with significant variability in mitigation feasibility and cost-effectiveness. Advanced methane monitoring systems, feed additives, biochar applications, leak detection technologies, and microbial interventions show considerable mitigation potential but face technical limitations, high implementation costs, infrastructure barriers, and scalability challenges. We emphasize sectoral prioritization, policy integration, and trade-offs associated with mitigation strategies. Immediate methane reductions offer substantial co-benefits, including improved air quality and public health, while directly supporting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 13, 7, and 12). Strategic, evidence-based methane mitigation represents one of the most effective pathways to limit near-term warming and accelerate climate stabilization.
Plants significantly reduce the adverse impacts of urban air pollution. Their pollution tolerance is widely measured using the Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) and Anticipated Performance Index (API), which aid in identifying resilient species preferred for effective urban greenbelt development. However, with the increasing presence of emerging pollutants in the atmosphere, such as black carbon (BC), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and heavy metals bound to suspended particulate matter (SPM) due to various anthropogenic activities, these indices require modification to ensure their accuracy and relevance. Based on existing research, this study examined the need to update these indices and presented opinions for adopting an improved plant selection framework to select urban vegetation for air pollution mitigation. A refined technique for evaluating plant tolerance and performance could improve the efficacy of urban green infrastructure, enabling more informed decisions for sustainable and resilient urban ecosystems.
