Low and no-till practices sequester soil carbon (C) and improve soil texture. Little detailed information is available quantifying the effects of these practices in rice-based cropping systems on the alluvial soils which are widely found across key rice-cultivating regions of South and Southeast Asia and elsewhere. Here we quantify the effects on topsoil texture and organic C sequestration of two tillage options, zero tillage (ZT) and conventional tillage (CT) in farmers’ fields in an old and a recent alluvial soil in West Bengal, eastern India. We considered these effects under two rice-based cropping systems; the widespread rice-wheat (RW) system and the emerging rice-maize (RM) system. Our results demonstrate that conservation agriculture (CA)-based practices increased total organic carbon (TOC) by up to 13.5% relative to CT practices. On the old alluvial soil TOC was 20% higher than on the recent alluvial soil, because of higher background TOC content on the older soil. Soil C was higher under ZT than under CT in both alluvial soils and increased more under RM than under RW. This paper provides new data and insights into the accumulation of different C fractions and demonstrates that these fractions are strongly influenced by clay and sand content in soils, indicating the different potential for old and recent alluvial soils to stabilize and sequester organic C under CA management. Our findings are applicable to other comparable agroecologies globally where CA practices are implemented on alluvial soils.

The Eastern Indo-Gangetic plains, including Bangladesh, are known for high weed pressure ecologies in rice-based production systems. In the conservation agriculture (CA)-based zero-tillage (ZT) wheat system, which is at the initial stage of evaluation and is being attempted for scaling, but the system faces effective weed control methods. A combination of herbicides can be the best option for controlling diverse weed flora in zero-till wheat fields. Therefore, an attempt was made to evaluate the efficacy and economics of different post-emergence herbicides alone and in combinations. The experiment was conducted in two consecutive years, 2017–2018 and 2018–2019, using a complete randomised block design in the rice–wheat cropping system. Under this experiment, the effects of different herbicides on the wheat growth, yield attributes, weed dynamics, control efficiency and economics were studied. The treatments applied in the study were as follows: T1: a ready-mixed formulation of sulfosulfuron + metsulfuron; T2: a ready-mixed formulation of mesosulfuron + iodosulfuron; T3: pinoxaden; T4: a ready-mixed formulation of carfentrazone + isoproturon; T5: pinoxaden + metosulfuron; T6: pinoxaden + carfentrazone; T7: halosulfuron; T8: halosulfuron + pinoxaden; T9: weedy check; and T10: weed-free. The wheat field was infested and dominated by 13 weed species in both years of the study, including three-four grasses, two sedges, and about eight-nine broadleaf species. Significant differences (p ≤ 0.01) were found in weed density, dry weight, percent mortality of weeds and percentage weed control efficiency with various post-emergence herbicides used for both seasons for all the emerged weed species, indicating that all post-emergence herbicides were able to control weeds effectively. Among these post-emergence herbicides, the combination of pinoxaden + metsulfuron and halosulfuron + pinoxaden performed best at controlling weeds, leading to improved wheat productivity and economics under ZT conditions. Based on the two-year yield and the economic benefits of these three observations, the combination of pinoxaden + metsulfuron and halosulfuron + pinoxaden may be recommended to control wide-spectrum weed flora in CA-based ZT-wheat.

Weeds are the number one pest of agricultural production systems and are a major constraint to the success of dry direct-seeded rice (DDSR). In this paper, the weed dynamics and management practices of DDSR are critically reviewed to minimize their influence on rice-based cropping systems in South Asia (SA). The yield losses due to uncontrolled weeds in the DDSR can reach 100

Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) has significantly affected maize crop yields, production efficiency, and farmers’ incomes in the Indian Eastern Gangetic Plains region since it was first observed in India in 2018. A lack of awareness by maize growers of the appropriate selection, method, and timing of insecticide application not only creates a barrier to sustainable FAW control but also contributes to increased environmental pollution, reduced human health and increased production costs. We demonstrated that FAW inflicted the most damage in early whorl growth stage of maize, regardless of whether chemical insecticides were applied. FAW egg masses and larvae collected from maize fields in which no insecticides had been sprayed showed high parasitism rates by parasitoid wasps; in contrast fields that had been sprayed had much lower rates of parasitism on FAW. Ten hymenopteran parasitoids were observed in maize fields across the study region, suggesting a diversity of natural methods to suppress FAW in maize at different growth stages. These included two FAW egg parasitoids and eight FAW larval parasitoids. Microplitis manilae Ashmead was the most abundant FAW larval parasitoid species, and Telenomus cf. remus was the dominant FAW egg parasitoid species. Endemic FAW parasitoids such as those observed in this study have great potential as part of a sustainable, cost-effective agroecological management strategy, which can be integrated with other methods to achieve effective control of FAW.

IntroductionCrop sequences are important to make efficient use of natural resources and ensure food security. Climate change affects the sustainability of crops in cropping sequence. The application of crop sequence modelling to evaluate the sustainability of cropping sequences under projected climate is a less explored area. MethodsThe present work evaluated the impact of projected climate on six cropping sequences viz., rice-mustard-groundnut, rice-lentil-groundnut, rice-potato-groundnut, rice-wheat-groundnut, rice-maize-groundnut and rice-mustard-fallow in the Lower Gangetic Plain of India. CMIP-5 multi-model ensemble, long-term crop sequence modelling using DSSAT and a multiple criteria decision analysis tool, TOPSIS was used to evaluate sustainability. Future climate scenarios were developed using 29 GCMs from which a subset of 5 representative GCMs was selected for mid-century (2040-2069) and end-century (2070-99) under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 emission scenarios. Weighted average ensemble yield, ETa and nitrogen fixed by all cropping sequences for the study period were used to rank cropping sequences for sustainability using TOPSIS. Results and DiscussionThe minimum and maximum temperatures during mid and end-centuries were projected to be consistently higher than the baseline period (1980-2010) for all the cropping seasons. Under all the periods, rice-lentil-groundnut had the highest weighted average ensemble yield, followed by rice-wheat-groundnut. Rice-lentil-groundnut fixed the highest quantity of nitrogen, followed by rice-maize-groundnut. Ranking of cropping sequences for sustainability by the TOPSIS method indicated that during mid-century (under both RCP4.5 and RCP8.5), the rice-lentil-groundnut sequence will be the most sustainable cropping sequence. However, by the end century, the rice-wheat-groundnut sequence will be the most sustainable cropping sequence, followed by rice-lentil-groundnut under both RCP4.5 and 8.5. In all the cropping sequences, rice will be benefitted by higher amount of nitrogen fixed and preceding groundnut. The three parameters considered for defining sustainability in crop production (yield, ETa and N-fixed) ensures higher produce and return for the farmer, less dependence on irrigation sources and increase in soil nitrogen content. In this paper, we show for the first time that cropping sequences can be evaluated for sustainability by combining crop sequence modelling, GCM ensemble and multi-criteria decision analysis. The results of the study will help the farmers of the study area to opt for the most sustainable cropping sequence and other alternatives in the context of climate change.

Information on upcoming weather events can be used by farmers to inform their decision making and to reduce deleterious effects of climate on farm productivity while maximizing profitability. With increasing climate variability and change the importance of climate forecasting services to agricultural production is increasing, although these services are largely new in low- and middle-income countries. The present study was conducted to investigate farmers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for agromet advisories (a type of climate service) in the Indian state of Bihar. We used innovative statistical analyses to identify both the factors influencing WTP and the pay bands considered reasonable by farmers for climate services currently provided under the Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa initiative of the Government of India. Of the 48 % of interviewed farmers who were willing to pay for climate services, 15.2 % were willing to pay up to INR 50 per month (approximately USD $0.6), while 23.5 % and 9.2 % of farmers were willing to pay monthly fees of up to INR 100 (USD $1.2) and 150 (USD $1.8), respectively. Farm (landholding) size, annual income and the extent to which a farmer utilized the agromet advisory all had a positive influence on both farmers’ WTP and the pay band offered. However, the perceived quality of the climate service had a positive influence only on farmers’ WTP, with no significant influence on the acceptable level of pay. Improvements in the quality of climate services may not alone be sufficient for farmers to pay for these services: effort and investment are needed to demonstrate their value and usefulness and to increase uptake. These results have learnings applicable across South Asia and in other agroecologies where smallholder farmers do not generally use climate services.

Crop management practices and variety are two very important parameters that decides the crop performance. A field experiment was carried out during the two consecutive rabi seasons of 2018–19 and 2019–20 to determine the impact of sowing timing, tillage operation, and variety on the growth, development, yield characteristics, and nitrogen uptake in lentil crops. The experiment was conducted in a split-split plot design with 3 replications comprising two different sowing conditions (S1: early sowing after harvesting of short duration kharif rice, S2: delayed sowing after harvesting of long duration kharif rice) in main plots, three different tillage operations (T1: Relay cropping, T2: Zero tillage, T3: Conventional tillage) in subplots and two different varieties (V1: short duration: L4717, V2: long period: Moitri) in subplots. The findings demonstrated a substantial interaction between sowing time, tillage, and variety on various growth and yield parameters of lentil crops. The early sowing of lentil crops (early November) yielded 4.8% more (1,105 kg ha−1) than late November sowing and adapting to the short-duration variety L4717 over the long-duration cultivar Moitri resulted in a yield increase of 5.9% (1,086 kg ha−1). Apart from providing a higher yield, it also provided an opportunity to take another crop like leafy vegetables. Among the three tillage practices adopted, conventional tillage produced the lowest yield (1,017 kg ha−1) in both experimental years. In contrast, a yield increase of 6.9% and 26.9% in relay cropping and zero tillage systems was observed, respectively. Early-sown lentils with no-tillage and a short-duration variety reached a certain phenophase faster than other combinations (life cycle: 96.2 and 98.7 days for lentils in both years). For both the sowing times, the growth parameters and the number of nodules plant−1 were highly correlated with nitrogen uptake at different stages of the life cycle. High net returns (Rs. 51,220 and 59,257) leading to higher benefit-cost ratios were observed under the treatment combination of early sowing + zero tillage + short duration variety. Therefore, the study found that short-duration lentil cultivars in combination with early sowing in the zero-tillage system are the best agronomic approach for the sustainability of lentil production after the monsoon rice harvest.

Zinc (Zn) deficiency is an enormous challenge to human health, particularly where rice is the principal food as it is inherently low in bioavailable Zn. Recent research has demonstrated the worth of biofortification of food-crops, particularly in regions with low phytoavailable Zn levels in the soils, to improve the rice grain Zn concentration. We tested different Zn fertilizer management methods for leading upland (rainfed) rice genotypes of north-eastern India to assess their potential to improve Zn-use efficiency, grain biofortification and yield. Of the three tested genotypes, the Bhalum-3 achieved 15.7–25

Relay cropping is a method that increases total productivity through maximum utilization of resources. In this study, we planned a field experiment, which was conducted at the Regional Agricultural Research Station, Ishwardi, Pabna during 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 to find out the most suitable way of relaying mukhikachu (MU) with hybrid maize to get the maximum benefit. Seven treatments: T1= Relay at silking stage (100 DAS), T2 = Relay at the blister stage (110 DAS), T3 = Relay at the milk stage (120 DAS), T4 = Relay at the dough stage (130 DAS), T5 = Relay at the dent stage (140 DAS), T6 = Sole hybrid maize, T7 = Sole mukhikachu, were compared in the study. It was found that among the treatments (relay cropping and sole stand), there was no significant difference in terms of yield and attributes of both base (maize) and relay crop (mukhikachu). In the entire treatment, maize yielded 10.54-11.30 t ha-1 with results of 3.28-3.66 MJ m-2day-1 light energy interception (120 DAS), 2.68-2.84 LAI (120 DAS) and 1534.63-1592.69 g m-2 TDM (140DAS). The mukhikachu yielded 26.88-27.28 t ha-1 among the relay cropping system. Maize equivalent yield (MEY) and BCR ranged from 28.48-29.18 t ha-1 and 2.33-2.39, respectively, amongst the relay cropping treatments. The land equivalent ratio (LER) of the relay cropping treatment produced almost double (1.934-1.996) that of the sole crops. Farmers can benefit by adopting this relay cropping technology when they grow long-duration crops, and this technology can lead to improved system productivity.

The use of chemical fertilizers under a rice-wheat cropping system (RWCS) has led to the emergence of micronutrient deficiency and decreased crop productivity. Thus, the experiment was conducted with the aim that the use of organic amendments would sustain productivity and improve the soil nutrient status under RWCS. A three-year experiment was conducted with different organic manures i.e. no manure (M0), farmyard manure @ 15 t ha-1 (M1), poultry manure @ 6 t ha-1(M2), press mud @ 15 t ha-1(M3), rice straw compost @ 6 t ha-1(M4) along with different levels of the recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) i.e. 0% (F1), 75% (F2 and 100% (F3 in a split-plot design with three replications and plot size of 6 m x 1.2 m. Laboratory-based analysis of different soil as well as plant parameters was done using standard methodologies. The use of manures considerably improved the crop yield, macronutrients viz. nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and micronutrients such as zinc, iron, manganese and copper, uptake in both the crops because of nutrient release from decomposed organic matter. Additionally, the increase in fertilizer dose increased these parameters. The system productivity was maximum recorded under F3M1 (13,052 kg ha-1) and results were statistically identical with F3M2 and F3M3. The significant upsurge of macro and micro-nutrients in soil and its correlation with yield outcomes was also observed through the combined use of manures as well as fertilizers. This study concluded that the use of 100% RDF integrated with organic manures, particularly farmyard manure would be a beneficial resource for increased crop yield, soil nutrient status and system productivity in RWCS in different regions of India.

To sustain food-production targets while reducing residue burning in the Indo-Gangetic Plains, adoption of conservation agriculture (CA) is desirable, amongst other potential adaptations. To identify the optimum residue levels for sustainable CA, the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) model was used to analyse 37 years (1984-2022) of diverse CA scenarios on productivity, sustainability and carbon footprints in the rice-wheat cropping system (RWCS). The study highlighted that APSIM has the capacity to capture the crop performance, phenology and CA scenario in RWCS. The scenario analysis indicated that maximum system productivity (SP) was recorded under higher residue (HR-9.33 t ha- 1) followed by higher-medium residue (HMR-8.97 t ha- 1) scenarios of CA, as compared to conventional tillage (CT-8.75 t ha- 1). Stable productivity was achieved under CA. Sustainable yield index and sustainable value index were significantly higher under HR (0.83 and 0.79, respectively) followed by HMR. The soil organic carbon concentration is predicted to increase -30-95% in CA with a carbon sequestration rate of 0.1-0.37 t ha- 1 yr- 1. The system water productivity was highest under HR (3.68 kg ha- 1 mm-1) which was -10% higher than CT. Overall, the study revealed that the APSIM model is efficient in capturing CA effects in South Asian RWCS and that the adoption of CA results in greater and stable yields, higher water productivity, and more carbon capture over the long term, while reducing production costs.

An optical sensor like Green Seeker (GS) is an emerging tool for site-specific in-season fertilizer nitrogen management strategy. The objective of this study was to establish an in-season estimate of yield (INSEY)–grain yield (GY) relation in wheat grown under Eastern plains of India using normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) at 45 and 65 days after sowing (DAS). Data revealed lower NDVI values at 65 DAS over 45 DAS in no-nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) applied control plots as well as in N-rich plots (225 kg ha −1 N); on the contrary, the values were higher at 65 DAS over 45 DAS in treatments where some N fertilizers were added based on NDVI readings at 45 DAS. Response index (RI) showed higher chances of response to external application of N in NDVI-based treatments. The INSEY–GY relation for wheat at 45 and 65 DAS was worked out as a power function of y = 64265x 1.171 and y = 46949x 1.036 (y is the attainable yield in kg ha −1 and x is INSEY), respectively. The yields could fairly be predicted through this relation even at 45 DAS, though the relationship was more robust at 65 DAS (R 2 = 0.94). A prescriptive dose of 60 kg N ha −1 as basal + 60 kg N ha −1 at crown root initiation (CRI) stage followed by NDVI sensor-guided N application (at 45 and 65 DAS) brought about a significant improvement in yield performances, N use efficiencies with higher net returns, and benefit-to-cost ratio. The results proved the reliability of the NDVI sensor as an important tool for the optimization of fertilizer nitrogen in wheat grown under the Eastern plains of India. The new INSEY–GY relation developed through this trial could successfully be used for yield prediction in the Eastern plains of India under changing climate.

Manganese (Mn) is an essential micronutrient in plants, and it is necessary for hydrolysis in photosystem II, chlorophyll biosynthesis, and also chloroplast breakdown. Limited Mn availability in light soil resulted in interveinal chlorosis, poor root development, and the development of fewer tillers, particularly staple cereals including wheat, while foliar Mn fertilizers were found efficient in improving crop yield as well as Mn use efficiency. In the above context, a study was conducted in consecutive two wheat growing seasons for screening of the most effective and economical Mn treatment for improving the yield and Mn uptake in wheat and to compare the relative effectiveness of MnCO3 against the recommended dose of MnSO4 for wheat. To fulfill the aims of the study, three manganese products, namely, 1) manganese carbonate MnCO3 (26% Mn w/w and 3.3% N w/w), 2) 0.5% MnSO4·H2O (30.5% Mn), and 3) Mn-EDTA solution (12% Mn), were used as experimental treatments. Treatments and their combinations were as follows: two levels of MnCO3 (26% Mn) @ 750 and 1,250 ml ha−1 were applied at the two stages (i.e., 25–30 and 35–40 days after sowing) of wheat, and three sprays each of 0.5% MnSO4 (30.5% Mn) and Mn-EDTA (12% Mn) solution were applied in other plots. The 2-year study showed that Mn application significantly increased the plant height, productive tillers plant−1, and 1,000 grain weight irrespective of fertilizer source. The results of MnSO4 for grain yield wheat as well as uptake of Mn were statistically at par with both levels (750 and 1,250 ml ha−1) of MnCO3 with two sprays at two stages of wheat. However, the application of Mn in the form of 0.5% MnSO4·H2O (30.5% Mn) was found more economical than MnCO3, while the mobilization efficiency index (1.56) was found maximum when Mn was applied in MnCO3 with two sprays (750 and 1,250 ml ha−1) in the two stages of wheat. Thus, the present study revealed that MnCO3 can be used as an alternative to MnSO4 to enhance the yield and Mn uptake of wheat.

CONTEXT: Intensive cropping and elevated input use to achieve high crop yields have resulted in the injudicious use of resources and a consequent reduction in profit margins for farmers in the Eastern Gangetic Plains (EGP) region of South Asia. In this region rice-wheat (RW) under conventional tillage (CT) management is the most widely cultivated cropping system. While conservation agriculture (CA)-based management practices have been demonstrated to improve cropping system performance, they are considered by many farmers to be risky, and adoption of CA in rice-based cropping systems is low. There has been little agronomic research into alternative cropping systems to develop diversification options appropriate for the EGP. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that shifting from a conventional RW system to crop establishment practices which incorporate CA principles, combined with alternative crops could improve the whole cropping system in terms of productivity, profitability, and nutritional security (as crop protein).METHODS: A long-term experiment evaluated the performance of five maize-based cropping systems under CA -based management relative to CT RW. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: CA-based practices improved the maize equivalent yield (MEY) by 4-15%, protein yield by 21%, input water productivity by 14-29% and the sustainable yield index by 10-11%, relative to the CT RW baseline. Cropping system labour requirements under CT were 12% higher than those under CA. The average cost of production under CT (USD $933) was 13-14% higher than in systems under CA; cropping systems under CA achieved net returns which were 31-34% higher. Diversifying from the traditional RW system to maize-based systems improved performance in all systems except maize-mustard. SIGNIFICANCE: These results demonstrate that while cropping system performance can be improved by applying CA-based management in RW systems, diversifying to maize-based systems in combination with CA may sus-tainably improve smallholder productivity and profitability while reducing some of the constraints to intro-ducing CA in rice-based systems. These findings are important for the millions of smallholder farmers across the EGP to sustainably improve food and nutrition security for South Asia.

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a potent and long-lived greenhouse gas, significant anthropogenic emissions of which are from agriculture. We reviewed 20 years’ (2001–2020) of published N2O emissions measurements from Australian agriculture with the aim of summarising measured data at a sectoral and/or regional level to develop recommendations for policymakers and farmer support groups. We found that over the 20-year period N2O emissions were recorded with a range of collection methods, experimental duration and intent, and units of emission. While the lack of consistency or strategic planning is understandable given the diverse funding sources and aims of the short-term research projects through which measurement data were collected, it impeded the development of recommendations to mitigate agricultural N2O emissions. Australia has a diverse and heterogenous agricultural landscape and while there are relatively few emissions measurements relative to most other countries the national N2O dataset is large: globally-relevant methods to reliably estimate regional-scale N2O emissions are required. Developing targeted long-term monitoring sites to inform the estimation of sector-level N2O emissions is critical to inform producers and policymakers of national, regional or sector-level emissions reduction strategies in countries where agriculture is a key source of greenhouse gas emissions.

Pearl millet-based cropping systems with intensive tillage operations prior to sowing have limited sustainable productivity in the low-irrigation conditions of semi-arid farming ecologies, such as those in the north Indian plains. The adoption of improved management practices such as zero tillage with residue retention (ZTR) and diversification with the inclusion of summer pulse crops has the potential to improve cropping system sustainability. Therefore, an experiment was designed to compare two improved management practices, zero tillage (ZT) and ZTR, to conventional tillage (CT), across three pearl millet-based cropping systems: pearl millet–chickpea (PM–CP), PM–CP–mungbean (MB), and PM–CP–forage pearl millet in a two-year experiment. Experimental treatments were compared in terms of pearl millet productivity, mineral biofortification, and greenhouse gas emissions. Results showed a significant increase in pearl millet yield attributes, grain and stover productivity, nutrient uptake, and micronutrient biofortification in the PM–CP–MB cropping system under ZTR relative to other treatment combinations. On-farm evaluation at different locations also showed that the intensification of PM–CP system using summer crops enhanced pearl millet productivity across diverse tillage systems. Overall, zero tillage practices combined with diversified pearl millet-based cropping systems are likely to be management practices, which farmers can use to sustainably maintain or increase cropping system productivity in the various semi-arid areas of the world.

AbstractNo-till mechanized-transplanted rice was evaluated for different combinations of pre- and post-emergence herbicides to determine feasible, economically viable weed management options to control complex weed flora in rice fields. All pre-emergence herbicides significantly reduced the population of grassy weeds; of these, pendimethalin resulted in the greatest reductions (83%) at 15 days after transplanting (DAT). Among five post-emergence herbicide treatments, the combination of bispyribac-sodium (10%SP) + pyrazosulfuron (10%WP) was found to be the most effective in controlling all weed flora at both 35 and 55 DAT. The sequential application of pendimethalin (pre-emergence) followed bispyribac-sodium + pyrazosulfuron (post-emergence) resulted in significantly higher rice grain yield (4.4 t-ha−1) and relative gross-margin (417 USD-ha−1) than all other treatments. A strong negative correlation was observed between rice grain yield and weed biomass, and a strong positive correlation between rice grain yield and weed control efficiency. Our findings demonstrate the potential to combine pre- and post-emergence herbicides in no-till mechanized-transplanted rice; these findings have applications globally in regions where rice is established by no-till or mechanized transplanting.

Mono-cropping in the farming system decline in farm profit, climate change, and food insecurity are some of the major concerns that lead to unsustainability in the agricultural production system in the Eastern Gangetic Plains. A study was conducted for three years from June 2019 to June 2022 at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar, India, to assess the profitable and best rice-based cropping system through crop diversification for sustainable agriculture. Ten different cropping sequences were exploited using randomised block design and replicated thrice, with the system productivity ranging from 8.70 to 24.95 t ha−1 under the different cropping sequences. The system productivity was increased by 187% and profitability by 299.52% in the maize − Cole crops − sesame cropping system over the rice − wheat cropping system. A diversified cropping system with black gram − maize + vegetable pea − sesbania possessed significantly more soil organic carbon (0.49%), bacterial population (47.85 × 106 cfu/g soil), azotobacter population (42.96 × 104 cfu/g soil), phosphate solubilising bacteria (20.72 × 106 cfu/g soil), dehydrogenase activity (4.39 µg TPF/g/h), fluorescein diacetate hydrolytic activity (17.28 µg fluorescein/g/h) and acid phosphatase activity (451.46 µg pNP/g/h), as well as urease activity (47.21 µg NH4+/g/h), relative to the rice–wheat cropping system. Therefore, the adoption of vegetables and legumes as diversified crops are viable options for enhancing productivity, profitability and soil health in the EGPs.

Micronutrient malnutrition or hidden hunger remains a major global challenge for human health and wellness. The problem results from soil micro- and macro-nutrient deficiencies combined with imbalanced fertilizer use. Micronutrient-embedded NPK (MNENPK) complex fertilizers have been developed to overcome the macro- and micro-element deficiencies to enhance the yield and nutritive value of key crop products. We investigated the effect of foliar applications of an MNENPK fertilizer containing N, P, K, Fe, Zn and B in combination with traditional basal NPK fertilizers in terms of eggplant yield, fruit nutritive quality and on soil biological properties. Applying a multi-element foliar fertilizer improved the nutritional quality of eggplant fruit, with a significant increases in the concentration of Fe (+ 26%), Zn (+ 34%), K (+ 6%), Cu (+ 24%), and Mn (+ 27%), all of which are essential for human health. Increasing supply of essential micronutrients during the plant reproductive stages increased fruit yield, as a result of improved yield parameters. The positive effect of foliar fertilizing with MNENPK on soil biological parameters (soil microbial biomass carbon, dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase) also demonstrated its capacity to enhance soil fertility. This study suggests that foliar fertilizing with a multi-nutrient product such as MNENPK at eggplant flowering and fruiting stages, combined with the recommended-doses of NPK fertilizers is the optimal strategy to improve the nutritional quality of eggplant fruits and increase crop yields, both of which will contribute to reduce micronutrient malnutrition and hunger globally.