Drought stress driven by intra-seasonal rainfall variability and rising evaporative demand constrains maize productivity in rainfed sub-humid systems of sub-Saharan Africa. This study evaluated the effects of Conservation Soil Water Management Practices (CSWMPs), including straw mulch, half-moon pits, and permanent planting basins, on seasonal, phenological, and depth-wise soil moisture dynamics and their implications for crop water use and productivity across three maize growing seasons. Volumetric soil moisture was monitored at 0-40 cm depth using FDR probes and linked to soil water storage, deficit to field capacity, available water, and soil physical properties. CSWMPs consistently maintained significantly higher soil moisture than the control (p ≤ 0.05) including during the critical reproductive stage of tasseling and silking, with half-moon pits showing the greatest retention. Grain yield increased from 2.7-4.9 t ha⁻¹ in the control to 7.0-8.2 t ha⁻¹ under straw mulch and permanent planting basins, while water use efficiency increased from 6-11 to 14-17.6 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹ (p ≤ 0.05). Evapotranspiration remained statistically similar across treatments (p > 0.05), indicating that yield gains resulted from improved partitioning of water into productive transpiration rather than increased water consumption. Mixed-effects modeling identified crop growth stage and soil water storage as dominant controls of soil moisture, with significant phenological interactions. Overall, SWMPs enhanced soil moisture retention, improved soil structural functioning, and strengthened maize resilience by improving apparent water productivity and crop yield under variable climatic conditions.

Degraded lands are crucial for achieving the CoP-26 targets such as, achieving net-zero to limit global warming by 2030. Transforming these lands with sustainable and nature positive practice is vital to increasing C stocks, offsetting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and improving land values. The degraded shallow basaltic landscape was rehabilitated through bio-engineering strategies in 2012-13 and assessed the impact of fruit trees (mango, pomegranate, and coconut) cultivation on GHG mitigation potential, yield, generating C credits, and oxygen production over eight-years (up to 2021-22). Restoration efforts successfully transformed barren land into productive fruit-growing systems. Mango system emitted the highest GHG (31.8 Mg CO₂-eq/ha) with highest C stock (91.3 Mg C/ha) due to greater biomass production and soil carbon improvements. Initial establishment activities accounted for the highest fuel consumption; 67 % of total GHG emissions. Among non-renewable resources, diesel contributed the most to GHG emissions; it is 53 % in mango, 45 % in coconut, and 18 % in pomegranate systems. Notably poor soil conditions enhanced the belowground biomass carbon (roots) production in fruit trees. All three systems were found net positive for GHG emissions. However, mango had the highest GHG mitigation potential, followed by coconut and pomegranate. While, coconut systems proved to be the most environmentally efficient, with higher C efficiency, and the lowest C footprint. Economically, pomegranate was the most profitable, with maximum net returns over 8-years, a benefit-cost ratio of 4.95, and the highest land expectation value. In conclusion, transforming degraded lands supports land degradation neutrality, net-zero emissions, oxygen supply, income security, and Sustainable development goals (SDG's) in semi-arid conditions.

This review paper discusses the potential and limitations of polymer composites for smart nitrogen (N) supply to meet the needs of agricultural crops. Unlike most conventional fertilizers, nano-clay polymer composites (NCPCs) offer a slow-release mechanism that enhances nitrogen use efficiency and reduces its loss to the environment. NCPCs are normally synthesized using solution blending, melt blending and in situ polymerization. Solution blending offers a better clay dispersion in the polymer matrix than melt blending owing to its low viscosity and strong stirring force. NCPCs have been characterized by several techniques, including equilibrium water absorbency, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and nutrient release kinetics. The potential benefits of using these composites are highlighted, including improved nitrogen use efficiency and reduced environmental impacts, as are their prospects for widespread use in agriculture and mitigation of the adverse environmental effects from conventional fertilizers. In addition, the limitations of NCPC technology, such as cost, scalability and potential negative environmental effects, are also investigated. The paper provides a wide perspective on the NCPC technology, including the regulatory environment and policy, industry trends and commercialization potential. NCPCs offer many benefits to increase nitrogen use efficiency and reduce pollution affecting water quality, air quality and climate. The main current barrier to overcome is to reduce production costs, so that farmers may also benefit financially from the higher nitrogen use efficiency and associated reduced amounts of nitrogen wasted to the environment.

ABSTRACT A detailed insight on global yield change of crops, soil quality parameters, and water‐nutrient‐energy nexus and biotic factors under conservation tillage (CT) in comparison to conventional tillage (CONT) is limited. We summarized the impacts of CT on yields, profitability, soil quality, and ecosystem sustainability in comparison to CONT. Globally, average yields of crops increased by 3.7% ( p < 0.05) with adoption of CT (> 3 years) compared to CONT. The CT has led to a significant improvement in crop productivity in North America (+6.2%) and Australia/Oceania (+21.4%) over CONT. Similarly, positive changes in yields with CT, although nonsignificant, were noted in Asia, South America, Europe, and Africa. The CT significantly increased the yields (+4.0%) of cereal crops. Among the crops, yield increase under CT was the highest for sorghum (110.1%) and lowest for soybean (1.3%). Adoption of CT for > 10 years (11–20 years) could increase yields of crops up to 6%–18%. Notably, CT resulted in improved soil aggregation with greater proportion of macroaggregates (+40%), soil organic carbon (+19.1%), and microbial biomass carbon (+44%) across diverse ecologies over CONT. Despite higher emissions of nitrous oxide, the net global warming potential was consistently lower in CT‐based systems than CONT. The CT could result in 25% increase in mean grain yield of crops with 22% higher net returns and 27% energy saving across regions than CONT. The CA can reduce soil bulk density (by 6.2%), increase aggregate stability (by 30%), and enhance infiltration rate (by 53%) as compared with CONT over a large agro‐ecologies.

Limiting nitrogen pollution from crop production is essential for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and protecting aquatic ecosystems while maintaining food security. Precision nitrogen management (PNM) provides a conceptual framework for achieving yield goals while maintaining nitrogen pollution within planetary boundaries by matching fertilizer rates to specific production conditions. Nevertheless, PNM strategies for smallholder contexts like India, a global nitrogen pollution hotspot, have proven costly to implement and are often ineffective. By combining survey data of production practices from 8705 wheat fields with digital soil mapping, we develop a novel PNM strategy that ‘learns from landscapes’ to generate and evaluate novel decision logic for nitrogen management. With this approach, ex-ante simulations indicate that reductions of 9% in nitrogen use and 16% in N _2 O emissions can be achieved without compromising yields, saving US$ 28 million per year in subsidies for the Indian state of Bihar alone. In contrast, conventional soil test-based recommendations may increase nitrogen use by 5% without corresponding yield gains. Our method that leverages large- n survey data and predictive modeling may provide a scalable pathway for PNM in similarly complex crop production environments where field and management heterogeneity is high.

Aquatic macrophytes, with their diverse capabilities, hold significant promise for addressing and minimizing persistent and bioaccumulative inorganic and organic pollutants such as heavy metals, explosive and radioactive materials, petroleum hydrocarbons, emerging contaminant-microplastics, and physico-chemical parameters. Among these, water hyacinth (WH-Eichhornia crassipes), while its unchecked proliferation in freshwater makes it one of the most problematic aquatic weeds globally, has emerged as a key player and an excellent candidate for phytoremediation due to its rapid growth and ability to absorb nutrients effectively. Harnessing the potential of this macrophyte is essential, not only for managing its invasive nature but also for its role as a bio-indicator of water contamination. Additionally, WH can be repurposed into a variety of valuable products, such as biodegradable paper, organic fertilizers, biogas, biohydrogen, fiber, charcoal briquetting, animal fodder, nanocellulose, composites, and fish feed. Recognizing its ecological benefits, edible or medicinal properties, and potential to become a cultivated plant itself, it is proposed to shift the concept of a weed from an undesirable plant to a potentially valuable and income-generating plant, supporting the Sustainable Development and circular bioeconomy goals. Artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things can lead to investigating socioeconomic impacts of WH and its management through automated harvesting systems, bioenergy production and wastewater treatment. For the first time, this comprehensive review aims to explore various management strategies for WH, including ethnobotanical knowledge and community-driven measures, predicting its expansion and harvest using AIOT, its applications in the development of a variety of value-added products, and bioremediating water bodies.

In the recent past, climate change has caused severe stress to crops in India, with subsequent major challenges for farmers. This situation has prompted efforts to adapt and reduce the risks of crop failure by developing more resilient crop varieties. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi has played a key role in this regard, including the development and promotion of these new crop varieties among farmers. This study presents a qualitative overview of 109 climate resilient crop varieties, released by ICAR on 11th August 2024 in a national programme and dedicated to the nation. These 109 crop varieties were representing to different crop categories: cereal 23; pulses 11; oilseeds 7; forage 7; sugarcane 4; fibre 6; potential crops 11; fruits 8; vegetables 8; tubers 3; spices 6; plantation 6; flowers 5; and medicinal plants 4. By showcasing the processes used in developing these new varieties, their unique attributes for withstanding abiotic (e.g., drought, moisture stress, flood, alkalinity and salinity) and biotic (insect pests and diseases) stresses were identified along with strategy needed to promote them. Further, the enhanced quality attributes of some of these field and horticultural crop varieties have the potential to mitigate nutritional deficiencies prevailing in masses. These new varieties also have the capacity for adoption in different states, characterized with diverse agro-climatic zones in the country. A strong collaboration and networking among central and state institutions; and private players are a pre-requisite in promoting and sustaining diversity of crop through newly developed climate resilient crop varieties. The strategy of proliferating the seeds and propagules, and promoting the newly developed crop varieties to a range of stakeholders (including central and state agencies, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (Farm Science Centre), FPOs (Farmer Producer Organizations), private seed growers, and social institutions), is seen as instrumental for their wider production, enabling adaptation to multiple stressors and their associated agricultural risks. The socio-economic and institutional aspects of these new crop varieties, including bio-fortification and nutraceutical dimensions, may help policy planners in devising suitable strategies for facing and adapting to differential stressors and ensuring nutritional security. Ultimately, the collective efforts enabled through planned and autonomous practices supported by state and central policies can ease access of climate resilient varieties by farmers, and reducing climate risk in agriculture. Overall, such process can build social-ecological resilience in agricultural field and strengthen SDG-2 (Zero Hunger), SDG-13 (Climate Action) and SDG-15 (Life on Land).

Wheat is a staple crop in India, but yields have stagnated and are projected to further decline due to climate change. One way to increase yields is to ensure timely sowing, which allows the crop to mature prior to damaging heat stress at the end of the growing season. Using novel satellite data products that we developed along with a unique village-level dataset that we collated across India's main wheat belt, the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP), we examine the extent of late sowing, its drivers, and the potential tradeoffs of earlier wheat sowing on yield and sustainability outcomes. We find that sowing dates are largely delayed in the eastern IGP, and this is primarily driven by delayed transplanting of the previous rice crop, reduced access to groundwater irrigation, and delayed monsoon onset. Considering tradeoffs, we find that early wheat sowing is associated with higher yields across the IGP, but also with increased groundwater depletion in the western IGP and increased rice residue burning across most of the IGP. We use these results along with maps of where rice residue burning is occurring and where groundwater is over-exploited to identify location-specific interventions that can enhance early wheat sowing sustainably across the IGP. Such actionable information can be used by policymakers and practitioners to promote the most effective interventions that simultaneously enhance early wheat sowing, increased wheat yields, and environmental sustainability in the world's most populous nation.

Carbon (C) sequestration in soil has the potential to offset the negative impacts of natural and anthropogenic C emissions at the agroecosystem level, thereby contributing to the mitigation of climate change, while improving inherent soil productivity, quality and achieving environmentally clean production systems. Though rice is one of the most important staple food crops in the world, it is often criticized as the major contributor to methane emissions, thereby exacerbating global climate change. In tropical and sub-tropical regions, rice is mostly grown under submergence, which has implications for the turnover of active and passive C stores in the surface soil. Organic matter decomposition is slower under anaerobic conditions resulting in carbon stocks in anaerobic lowland rice fields that are 12%–58% higher than in upland aerobic rice soils. The aim of this article is to review the C sequestration potential in lowland rice system through modified agricultural management practices like integrated nutrient management, water management, organic farming, varietal selection, conservation agriculture, soil amelioration through biochar, rice intensification and mitigation of accelerated climate change. However, the effectiveness of soil C management strategies depends on crop management practices, climatic conditions, soil microbial diversity and activity, soil mineralogy and soil aggregation. This study highlights the importance of synergistic effects of multiple management practices in lowland rice agroecosystems, compares their efficiency, and examines the challenges involved and recommends various practices for environmentally clean production in lowland rice agroecosystems in the context of climate change.

The future of reactive nitrogen (N) for subtropical lowland rice to be characterised under diverse N -management to develop adequate sustainable practices. It is a challenge to increase the efficiency of N use in lowland rice, as N can be lost in various ways, e.g., through nitrous oxide (N2O) or dinitrogen (N2) emissions, ammonia (NH3) volatilization and nitrate (NO3-) leaching. A field study was carried out in the subsequent wet (2021) and dry (2022) seasons to assess the impacts of different N management strategies on yield, N use efficiency and different N losses in a double -cropped rice system. Seven different N -management practices including application of chemical fertilisers, liquid organic fertiliser, nitrification inhibitors, organic nutrient management and integrated nutrient management (INM) were studied. The application of soil test -based neem-coated urea (NCU) during the wet season resulted in the highest economic yield, while integrated nutrient management showed the highest economic yield during the dry season. Total N losses by volatilization of NH3, N2O loss and leaching were 0.06-4.73, 0.32-2.14 and 0.25-1.93 kg ha - 1, corresponding to 0.06-5.84%, 0.11-2.20% and 0.09-1.81% of total applied N, respectively. The total N -uptake in grain and straw was highest in INM (87-89% over control) followed by the soil test -based NCU (77-82% over control). In comparison, recovery efficiency of N was maximum from application of NCU + dicyandiamide during both the seasons. The N footprint of paddy rice ranged 0.46-2.01 kg N-eq. t-1 during both seasons under various N management. Ammonia volatilization was the process responsible for the largest N loss, followed by N2O emissions, and NO3- leaching in these subtropical lowland rice fields. After ranking the different N management practices on a scale of 1-7, soil test -based NCU was considered the best N management approach in the wet year 2021, while INM scored the best in the dry year 2022.

Abstract Coiled tubing (CT) strings are costly and long lead items which are prone to sulfide stress cracking (SSC) and stress corrosion cracking (SCC) when exposed to sour conditions. This paper provides the real-time observations where CT exposure to harsh sour well conditions led to the occurrence of premature failure in CT strings resulting from SSC. The paper will also describe how the application of improvised protection practices can lead to quantifiable enhancement of CT string life. The paper will also explain the optimum grade selection for a CT string which remains the foundational factor influencing the life expectancy of the string and also outline best practices for CT string maintenance and management on and off jobs. Analyzing mass data of CT string utilization spreading over 200 plus well intervention CT runs shows the dominating control factor is the application of SSC inhibitors with unique scavengers to inhibit the corrosive environment the string is exposed to. Chemical protection in combination with appropriate fatigue derating was primarily evaluated in this study. The results were exceptional having observed zero sulfide stress related failures resulting from exposure to hydrogen sulfide (H2S) concentrations as high as 70,000 ppm (7%) and high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) conditions over a period of four years. When it comes to the observation of coiled tubing life expectancy, the application of improved practices and procedures and the inference resulting from these practices, are time-bound and dynamic. The pre-job evaluation of the scope and wellbore conditions was a key turning point as it affected the job design. Specific jobs may have sour conditions, but with a lower partial pressure, the design of chemical protection can remain mild. Practices in this paper proved effective for a range of H2S and downhole conditions where H2S partial pressure was always above 0.05 psi. Concurrently, the study concluded that a scope that calls for prolonged CT string exposure to downhole conditions and prohibits access to pumping chemical, will not be the right candidate to implement the recommended practices in this study. In conclusion, using effective scavengers and inhibitors along with implementing the recommended practices such as coiled tubing fatigue derating remained the basis for establishing the best protection practice for such unforgiving environments. The study this paper presents dispenses an operating range for a coiled tubing to safely operate in specific high H2S environments. Implementation of synonymous design of chemical protection and coiled tubing derating routine establishes a moderate precedent for operating low carbon allow pipes in harsh sour environment while maximizing pipe life.

Even though researches have shown that biochar can improve soil-health and plant-growth even in harsh environments and get rid of harmful heavy metals and new contaminants, it is still not sustainable, affordable, or effective enough. Therefore, scientists are required to develop nanomaterials in order to preserve numerous aquatic and terrestrial species. The carbonaceous chemical known as nano-biochar (N-BC) can be used to get rid of metal contamination and emerging contaminants. However, techniques to reduce hetero-aggregation and agglomeration of nano-biochar are needed that lead to the emergence of emerging nano-biochar (EN-BC) in order to maximise its capacity for adsorption of nano-biochar. To address concerns in regards to the expanding human population and sustain a healthy community, it is imperative to address the problems associated with toxic heavy metals, emerging contaminants, and other abiotic stressors that are threatening agricultural development. Nano-biochar can provide an effective solution for removal of emerging contaminants, toxic heavy metals, and non-degradable substance. This review provides the detailed functional mechanistic and kinetics of nano-biochar, its effectiveness in promoting plant growth, and soil health under abiotic stress. Nonetheless, this review paper has comprehensively illustrated various adsorption study models that will be employed in future research.

Nutrient budgeting for cropland is a crucial tool for assessing nutrient mining or excess application. We estimated the nutrient budget of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in cropland for South Asia during the last five decades (from 1970 to 2018) using equation-based empirical methods. Nutrient budget for the last five decades shows a negative balance of N (3.94 million tons, Mt), P (23.87 Mt), and K (247.23 Mt). Inorganic fertilizer remained the major input source for N and P, and its decadal average share increased for N (from 27.9% to 72.8%) and P (from 72.1% to 94.5%) from 1970 to 2010s and the share of manure, deposition, and crop residue to N, P and K input decreased. Deposition remained a major source of K input and its share decreased from 64.0% to 35.5% during the period. The share of crop removal to the decadal output of N (58.6% to 53.4%) and P (49.0% to 23.1%) decreased, and K (72.5% to 76.0%) increased from 1970 to 2010s. The higher losses of fertilizer N, and accumulation of P and K fertilizers in soils, resulted in decreasing partial factor productivity of N (from 72.2% to 16.9%), P (from 217.0% to 42.2%), and K (from 480.3% to 113.8%) from 1970 to 2018. Nutrient budget helps in identifying the regional imbalance (mining/accumulation) of the major nutrients, it will provide valuable information on the present status of country-level nutrient use for reorientation of their nutrient/fertilizer use policies.

Climate change, food insecurity, and agricultural pollution are all serious challenges in the twenty-first century, impacting plant growth, soil quality, and food security. Innovative techniques are required to mitigate these negative outcomes. Toxic heavy metals (THMs), organic pollutants (OPs), and emerging contaminants (ECs), as well as other biotic and abiotic stressors, can all affect nutrient availability, plant metabolic pathways, agricultural productivity, and soil-fertility. Comprehending the interactions between root exudates, microorganisms, and modified biochar can aid in the fight against environmental problems such as the accumulation of pollutants and the stressful effects of climate change. Microbes can inhibit THMs uptake, degrade organic pollutants, releases biomolecules that regulate crop development under drought, salinity, pathogenic attack and other stresses. However, these microbial abilities are primarily demonstrated in research facilities rather than in contaminated or stressed habitats. Despite not being a perfect solution, biochar can remove THMs, OPs, and ECs from contaminated areas and reduce the impact of climate change on plants. We hypothesized that combining microorganisms with biochar to address the problems of contaminated soil and climate change stress would be effective in the field. Despite the fact that root exudates have the potential to attract selected microorganisms and biochar, there has been little attention paid to these areas, considering that this work addresses a critical knowledge gap of rhizospheric engineering mediated root exudates to foster microbial and biochar adaptation. Reducing the detrimental impacts of THMs, OPs, ECs, as well as abiotic and biotic stress, requires identifying the best root-associated microbes and biochar adaptation mechanisms.

This study regarding the strategic outlook for human resource needs in India's agriculture and horticulture sectors for the next 20 years addresses the evolving economy's competitive skill requirements. Supply projections were made considering factors like historical growth, seat availability, graduation delays, placement rates, replacement needs, adjusted stock, etc. Demand projections were made considering historical growth of the sector, attrition rate, vacancies, contractual employment, new job roles, etc. In 2020, the available stock of agriculture graduates was 301,295 against a demand of 414,592, and horticulture graduates were 34,300 against a demand of 119,635. By 2040, the supply-demand gap is expected to narrow to 8% for agriculture and 21% for horticulture. The study's insights will help shape higher education, support evidence-based policy-making, and assist in implementing the National Education Policy 2020.

Understanding the interactions between climate change and various soil processes helps in understanding the impacts and developing strategies to adapt and mitigate climate change. In this chapter, we have described a brief overview of climate change and greenhouse gas concentrations, as well as different representative concentration pathways (RCP) scenarios and changes in soil processes on a global scale. We have also described the impacts of climate change on various soil processes, including soil formation, clay mineral transformation, soil erosion, structural degradation, hydrological processes, soil air, and thermal regimes, nutrient cycling, ion exchange, nutrient availability, acidification, salinization, alkalinization, microbial changes, and rhizosphere chemistry. In addition, we also described the effects of climate change on seven soil functions and soil processes such as C sequestration, aggregation, porosity, humification, podsolization, translocation of C deep into the soil profile, soil water regime, and nitrification–denitrification.

Agricultural crop residue burning contribute towards the emission of greenhouse gases (CO2, N2O, CH4), air pollutants (CO, NH3, NOx, SO2, NMHC, volatile organic compounds), particulates matter and smoke thereby posing threat to human health. In the present study a state-wise inventory of crop residue burnt in India and the air pollutants emitted was prepared using the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) national inventory preparation guidelines for the year 2008–09. Total amount of residue generated in 2008–09 was 620 Mt out of which 15.9

Under intensive agriculture, weeds cause heavy losses in crop yield and quality. The existing manual method of weed control is no longer sustainable because of paucity of labours, higher wage, and huge drudgery. Herbicide is an easier, more efficacious, and economical tool for weed control in crops and un-cropped situations. However, the consequences of herbicide use, concerning non-target toxicities, and the evolution of herbicide-resistant weeds have drawn the attention of world communities. Therefore, in this review, we attempt to highlight the potential benefits vis-à-vis harmful consequences of herbicides in diversified crop ecologies across the world. Herbicide use resulted in weed control efficiency of 52-96% in different agro-ecologies. Besides, it could increase grain yield of different arable crops by 19-372% with an additional economic benefit of US$ 305 - US$ 867 over unweeded control. Chemical weed management resulted in gain in net returns by 4-12% over manual weeding (∼two hand weedings) and by 7-247% over the weed-free check in different countries. The majority of herbicides used at recommended doses in crops did not show any direct and/or residual toxicity on soil micro-organisms in agro-ecologies. Environmental conditions may change pesticide impacts on non-target micro-organisms. Over-reliance on herbicides and injudicious use at higher rates may lead to a fragile ecosystem, but judicious use can stimulate productivity, profitability and livelihood security. Hence, integrated weed management (IWM) that can restrict weed populations below threshold level, reduce environmental foot-print, increase cropping system sustainability, and reduce selection pressure for weed resistance to herbicides has been suggested.

This study investigates the impact of bacteria on arsenic reduction in wheat plants, highlighting the potential of microbe-based eco-friendly strategies for plant growth. In the present study, bacterial isolate SPB-10 was survived at high concentration against both form of arsenic (As3+ and As5+). SPB-10 produced 5.2 g/L and 11.3 g/L of exo-polysaccharide at 20 ppm of As3+ and As5+, respectively, whereas qualitative examination revealed the highest siderophores ability. Other PGP attributes such as IAA production were recorded 52.12 mg/L and 95.82 mg/L, phosphate solubilization was 90.23 mg/L and 129 mg/L at 20 ppm of As3+ and As5+, respectively. Significant amount of CAT, APX, and Proline was also observed at 20 ppm of As3+ and As5+ in SPB-10. Isolate SPB-10 was molecularly identified as Bacillus cereus through 16S rRNA sequencing. After 42 days, wheat plants inoculated with SPB-10 had a 25