Environment fluctuations including in-field stressors (biotic and abiotic factors) directly affect yield attributes of wheat crop. Plant-environment interaction is detrimental for determining the plant growth and development. Several endogenous substances play substantial role in the better shape of plant under normal and unfavorable situations. Among them, small RNAs (sRNA) are central regulators for gene expression pattern and downstream signaling cascade that regulate developmental phase of wheat under multiple stressors. sRNAs are a distinct type of endogenous, small, noncoding regulatory RNAs playing significant roles in developmental and regulatory component under abiotic stresses via posttranscriptional regulators in sequence-specific manner. Generally, abiotic stress-induced miRNAs downregulate already transcribed mRNAs and help in accumulating positive regulators. Recently, numerous methodologies and molecular biology tools, viz., genome-wide association mapping, up- and downregulation of candidate miRNAs in diverse plant species showed their mechanistic involvement in multiple abiotic stresses. This chapter emphasizes biogenesis and modulatory importance of miRNAs for the enhancement multiple abiotic stress tolerance in wheat. This chapter also summarizes the key understanding regarding diverse miRNAs in regulation of plant developmental phases under stress environment.

Rice, world’s second major, staple cereal crop that feed the more than 50% of world’s population. To safeguard the production and to fulfill the demand of ever the increasing population and urbanization there is need to increase the rice production. Though the rice yield has increased due to the development of modern technology and climate resilient high yielding cultivars but still it is 10–15 per cent lower than its potential yield due to various biotic and abiotic stress. Drought, extreme temperature, salinity, harmful radiation, heavy metals, gaseous pollutants are the most detrimental abiotic stresses factors that cause the morphological, physiological and biochemical changes in the rice crops and ultimate result is the reduction of rice production globally. Tolerance against these stresses through exploitation of potent biotechnological tools, molecular markers, QTL mapping omices approaches, phytohormones which could offer a more adequate and rapid solution to overcome these abiotic stresses and to enhance the ultimate grain yield of rice.

Fox nut (Euryale ferox Salisb.) is fast emerging as a super food, and its field cultivation has just started in recent years. To evaluate the impact of secondary and micronutrients on yield and quality of fox nut, a two-year field experiment was conducted with seven treatments involving use of primary (NPK), secondary (Mg) and micronutrients (Zn, Cu and B). Application of Mg @5.0 kg ha(-1), Zn @5.0 kg ha(-1), B @1.0 kg ha(-1) or Cu (foliar spray with 0.1% CuSO4 solution) along with NPK@100, 60 and 40 kg ha(-1) increased the relative yield up to 1.46, 1.50, 1.47 and 1.62, respectively, compared to 1.0 at control (no fertilization), 1.26 with NPK, and 1.81 with combined application of Mg, Zn, B and Cu along with NPK. Yield boosting effect of Mg and micronutrients, particularly Cu was mediated mostly through their positive effect on seed weight and size. Secondary and micronutrients application also helped in improving or at least sustaining the seed protein and other nutrients' content even at higher levels of crop productivity. To our knowledge, this was the first study on fox nut revealing the utility of secondary and micronutrients in improving its yield and quality in subtropical climate.

Field studies were conducted during rabi season of 2014-15 to 2015–16 to at Crop Research Farm, Block E ofSHUATS, Department of Agronomy, Naini Agricultural Institute, SHUATS, Prayagraj, to study effect oftillage practices, nitrogen and zinc management on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) productivity and quality inthe NEPZ. The experiment comprising two treatments in main plots (conventional and minimum tillage)in sub plots six organic and inorganic nitrogen management (viz., NU0; Control, NU1; 50% RDN throughinorganic with 50% RDN through organic, NU2; 25% RDN through inorganic with 75% RDN throughorganic, NU3; 50% RDN through inorganic with 50% RDN through organic, NU4; 25% RDN throughinorganic with 75% RDN through vermicompost organic N5; 100% RDN through inorganic and sub plotsviz., control and zinc,was laid out in split split plot design with three replications. Results revealed thatsignificant and maximum (grain yield, 3.89 t/ha; number of leaves per plant, 17.25 and 18.12 at 75 and 90DAS; organic carbon, 0.451%) respectively were recorded in crop cultivated by conventional tillage. Further,significantly the highest soil organic carbon (0.462%) was recorded in minimum tillage compare toconventional tillage. Significant and maximum and yield attributes (grain yield, 4.14 t/ha; straw yield, 8.39t/ha; plant height, 84.42 and 94.58 cm at 90 and 105 DAS; number of leaves per plant, 17.82 and 18.25 at 75and growth attributes 105 DAS, respectively were recorded in applied nitrogen management NU3 50%RDN through inorganic with 50% RDN through organic treatment. Similarly, the maximum buildup of soilorganic carbon 0.462%; Pore space, 48.407 and 48.135% at depth 0-15 and 15-30 cm and significant andmaximum the lowest (soil pH, 7.24; S, 13.19; Mn, 4.56 and Cu, 0.53; Bulk density, 1.329 and 1.316 g cm-3 at0-15 and 15-30 cm; Particle density, 2.517 g cm-3 at 15-30 cm, respectively were recorded in NU3 treatment.The foliar application of 0.5% zinc sulphate had pronounced effect on soil properties and crop performanceof wheat under rainfed conditions.

Field experiment was conducted to examine the determine the effect of lime and boron interaction on nutrient availability and acidity parameters in soil. The experiment was carried out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) in field with four levels of lime (L0 – No lime, L0.3 – Furrow application @ 300 kg ha-1, L2.0 – Broadcasting @ 2 t ha-1, L5.0 – Broadcasting @ 5 t ha-1) and four levels of boron (B0 – No Boron, B0.5 – Broadcasting @ 0.5 kg ha-1, B1.0– Broadcasting @ 1 kg ha-1, B1.5 – Broadcasting @ 1.5 kg ha-1), respectively. B fertilization is therefore important to improve soil B availability and crop growth in the region. Availability of applied B in soil may be affected due to its possible interaction with lime which is usually recommended as an ameliorative measure in acidic soils. In this view, a field experiment was undertaken to evaluate the effect of lime and B application on growth, yield and quality of soybean, as well as their effect on nutrient availability and acidity parameters in soil. The crop was grown with four doses of lime (0, 0.3, 2.0 and 5.0 t ha-1) and as many doses of B application (0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 kg ha-1). The experiment was taken in RBD design with factorial arrangements of the treatments. Seed yield of soybean increased with increasing doses of lime and Boron application with the highest yield being observed at 5tha-1 lime and 1 kg ha-1 B application; lime and B interaction was not significant Application of B @ 1 kg ha-1 increased seed yield by 18.6%, while lime application @ 5 t ha-1. Increased yield by 36%.The positive effect of lime and B application on soybean yield was mediated through improved growth and pod formation in the crop.

A four-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different tillage practices and cropping systems on total organic carbon (TOC), oxidisable C fractions, water stable aggregates (WSA) and associated carbon in an Inceptisol of Eastern Indo Gangetic Plains (EIGP). The study covered nine treatments resulting from combining three rice-based cropping systems [rice-wheat (RW), rice-lentil (RL) and rice-maize (RM)] with three tillage practices [conventional tillage (CT), reduced tillage (RT) and reduced tillage with 30% residue retention (RTR30)]. The data showed that the combined treatment RL-RTR30 registered the highest carbon stock (23.3 Mg ha(-1)) and TOC (13.8 g kg(-1) soil) in soil. Reduced tillage with 30% residue retention maintained the highest macro-aggregate (65.5%) and the lowest micro-aggregate percentage (19.6%) compared to CT. Carbon associated to all aggregate size fractions was highest in RL-RTR30. Carbon stock exhibited a significant (p < 0.01) positive correlation with less labile carbon. Macro-aggregate percentage was positively correlated with C-stock, TOC, organic carbon fractions and aggregate associated organic carbon, whereas micro-aggregate showed an inverse correlation with all the afore-mentioned parameters. We conclude that RL-RTR30 is the best rice production system to promote C sequestration in the soils of eastern Indo-Gangetic plains of India.

Organic carbon content in acid soils of Northeastern India is high; however, productivity is limited due to several biotic and abiotic stresses. Several studies in this region elucidated the effect of nutrient management on soil organic carbon, soil fertility and productivity in isolation. Relatively limited information is available on changes in soil biochemical properties and processes owing to nutrient management, which may be a guide in adopting appropriate techniques to maintain soil quality. To achieve the objectives, surface and subsurface soil samples were collected from a long-term experiment (5 years) and soil biochemical properties viz. soil organic carbon (SOC), total organic carbon (TOC), soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), microbial biomass nitrogen (SMBN), microbial biomass phosphorus (SMBP), glomalin and soil enzymes were analyzed. It was found that nutrient managements can lead to a significant positive impact on organic carbon fractions (SOC, TOC), microbial biomass fractions (SMBC, SMBN, SMBP), and enzyme activities. As microbial properties and enzymes activities are sensitive to management practices, they can be better indicators to assess soil quality changes.

Soil quality assessment is very important aspect in determining long term sustainability; however it is governed by different physico-chemical and bio-chemical parameters. These are interrelated among them and controlled by different management practices like tillage, water, organic and inorganic source of nutrients etc. Among the different soil parameters, it was considered that soil biochemical parameters provide rapid and accurate estimates on soil quality and its evaluation require understanding of biochemical and microbiological soil properties. Among the several biochemical and microbiological properties, soil organic carbon fractions, microbial biomass and soil enzymes activities may be considered as an important property which governed soil health or quality. Soil organic carbon fractions includes total organic carbon, soil organic carbon (oxidizable carbon), labile carbon etc., microbial biomass and enzymes activities include content of microbial biomass carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and activities of different enzymes like dehydrogenase, acid and alkaline phosphatase, Urease, β-glucosidase, Aryl sulphatase etc. It is established and proved that, nutrient management practices (application of fertilizers and manures) marked significant effect on SOC fractions and soil enzymes activities. In most of cases, the application of organic sources of nutrients as well as integrated nutrient management resulted in significant improvement in the soil biochemical properties, however, microbial properties like microbial biomass carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and enzymes activities are very sensitive to nutrient management options compared to soil organic carbon fractions.

An investigation was undertaken to evaluate the soil properties of different land use systems viz. Jhum field (1st year), Jhum field (2nd year), Large cardamom based agro forestry system (4 year old), Orange based farming system (15 year), Jhum fallow (4 year) and Forest (>20 year) in Longleng district of Nagaland. Highest available P was recorded 21.91 kg/ha under Jhum 1st year, whereas lowest available K was found (219.81kg/ha) under Large cardamom agro-forestry system (4 year). Forest soil were recorded 7.70%, 14.15%, 26.16%, higher pH, SOC, available N respectively as compared to Jhum fallow 2nd year. Result revealed that maximum value of pH (5.31), SOC (2.58 %) and available N (413.95 kg/ha) were recorded under forestland (more than 20 years) followed by Orange based farming system as compared to other land use system.

Overburden and acid drainage from coal mining is transforming productive agricultural lands to unproductive wasteland in some parts of Northeast India. We have investigated the adverse effects of acid mine drainage on the soil of rice paddy and productivity by comparing them with non-mined land and abandoned paddy fields of Jaintia Hills in Northeast India. Pot experiments with a local rice cultivar (Myngoi) as test crop evaluated biological productivity of the contaminated soil. Contamination from overburden and acid mine drainage acidified the soil by 0.5 pH units, increased the exchangeable Al3 + content 2-fold and its saturation on clay complexes by 53%. Available sulfur and extractable heavy metals, namely Fe, Mn and Cu increased several-fold in excess of critical limits, while the availability of phosphorus, potassium and zinc contents diminished by 32–62%. The grain yield of rice was 62% less from fields contaminated with acid mine drainage than from fields that have not suffered. Similarly, the amounts of vegetation, i.e. shoots and roots, in pots filled with soil from fields that received acid mine drainage were 59–68% less than from uncontaminated land (average shoot weight: 7.9 ± 2.12 g pot− 1; average root weight: 3.40 ± 1.15 g pot− 1). Paddy fields recovered some of their productivity 4 years after mining ceased. Step-wise multiple regression analysis affirmed that shoot weight in the pots and grain yield in field were significantly (p < 0.01) and positively influenced by the soil's pH and its contents of K, N and Zn, while concentration of S in excess of threshold limits in contaminated soil significantly (p < 0.01) reduced the weight of shoots in the pots and grain yield in the field.

Thirty diverse genotype of cluster bean were evaluated to study variability, heritability and Genetic Advance for yield and its contributing characters. Variation in genetic constituent leads to increasing phenotypic expression of the quantitative characters of individuals. The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher than the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) in all the characters indicating higher influence of environment. A considerable amount of variability (gcv) varied from 2.69 for days to 50% flowering to 67.57 for seed yield per plant and the estimates of pcv varied from 3.02 for days to 50% flowering to 70.65 for seed yield per plant. The genetic advance varied from 0.30 for 100Seed weight to 27.45 for Plant height. High estimates of genetic advance were reported for plant height. However, high heritability estimates was associated with high predicted genetic advance for plant height These traits were mostly governed by additive gene action. And these characters are important for the breeder to construct selection indices.

Soybean (Glycine max L.), being a leguminous oilseed crop, requires relatively higher amount of sulfur (S) and boron (B) for optimum yield and quality. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of S and B application on growth, yield, and quality of soybean, and to find out their optimum doses for the best crop performance in acidic soils of northeast India. The treatments comprised four levels of S (0, 20, 40, and 60 kg/ha) and four levels of B (0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 kg/ha) in factorial combination. In general, application of S and B, either alone or in combination, significantly increased the growth, yield, and quality of soybean. When applied alone, S resulted in best yield (1767 kg/ha) at S40, which was 21.2% higher than the yield at control (1458 kg/ha), while B produced maximum yield (1578 kg/ha) at B1.5 (8.23% higher than control). Interestingly, 57.4% yield improvement over control was recorded with combined application of S40 and B1.5, which shows their synergistic effect on crop performance. Similarly, with concurrent application of S40 and B1.5, a 28% increase in protein and 33% increase in oil content of soybean were recorded relative to control. In general, S40 + B1.5 also resulted in the highest nutrient nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium sulfur, and boron (NPKSB) uptake by soybean. Based on these results, we recommend the conjunctive use of 40 kg S and 1.5 kg B/ha for the best yield and quality of soybean on acidic soils of northeast India and other regions with similar soils.

A field experiment was conducted to study the “response of growth and development of safflower to green manuring, spacing and nitrogen levels under rainfed condition” was conducted in Northern dry zone (zone-3) of Karnataka, at Agriculture Research Station, Annigeri, UAS, Dharwad during kharif and rabi seasons of 2014-15 under rainfed condition. The experiment was laid out in a split-split plot design replicated thrice with 18 treatment combinations. Main plots consisted of three treatments, greengram for green manuring and greengram as a dual purpose both grown during kharif and one fallow. Succeeding safflower was sown during rabi season with two spacing of 45 cm x 20 cm and 60 cm x 30 cm as sub plots and three nitrogen levels 20, 30 and 40 kg N/ ha as sub-sub plot. The incorporation of green manures could further improve the productivity of safflower compared to keeping land fallow. The differential response of safflower to different green manures and spacing could be related to their differential response in terms of growth and Development.

Aim: This study was conducted to determine the incidence of major reproductive problems of dairy cattle reared under a semi-intensive system by small and marginal farmers in Meghalaya province of North-Eastern India. Materials and Methods: In a 3 years study, a total of 576 crossbred dairy cattle (212 Holstein Friesian cross and 364 Jersey cross) from all districts (n=11) of Meghalaya were assessed with the survey, clinical examination, and personal observations. Results: Out of the total animal assessed, 33.85% (n=195) were found to be affected with one or more of the clinical reproductive problems. Repeat breeding (RB), anestrus, retention of fetal membrane, and abortion were found to be the major clinical reproductive problems. Out of the total animal affected with reproductive disorders, the incidence of anestrus, RB, retention of fetal membrane, and abortion was found to be 31.79% (n=62), 24.61% (n=48), 14.35% (n=28), and 11.25% (n=22), respectively. In addition, dystocia (5.12%), prolapse (1.53%), endometritis (4.61%), and pyometra (6.66%) were minor clinical reproductive problems. There was a significant difference in the incidence of reproductive disorders with respect to breed, age, and parity. Conclusion: It was revealed from this study that RB, anestrus, retention of fetal membrane, and dystocia are the major clinical reproductive problems in Meghalaya. Results indicated unsatisfactory feeding, housing, and health management practices are the main cause of low fertility of dairy cows. Lack of scientific knowledge, low access to breeding, and health services further contributed to low productivity and fertility.

Batch adsorption studies were conducted to assess the P sorption characteristics and standard P requirement (SPR) of two representative acidic soils of northeast India: (1) Alfisol with pH 4.5 (S-4.5), and (2) Inceptisol with pH 5.0 (S-5.0). It is found that the actual P requirement of the acidic soils in northeast India may be higher than its present recommendation; and also, there exists considerable variation in P requirement of soils within the same region, which underlines the need of site-specific nutrient recommendation rather than a single blanket recommendation for the whole region.

Cellulose decomposing microorganisms (CDMs) are important for efficient bioconversion of plant biomasses. To this end, we isolated seven fungal isolates (Aspergillus wentii, Fusarium solani, Mucor sp., Penicillum sp., Trichoderma harzaianum, Trichoderma sp.1 and Trichoderma sp.2) and three bacterial isolates (bacterial isolate I, II and III) from partially decomposed farm yard manure, rice straw and vermicompost, and evaluated them for decomposition of rice straw (Oryza sativa), Ipomoea camea and Eichhornia crassipes biomass. CDMs inoculation, in general, reduced the composting period by 14-28 days in rice straw, 14-34 days in Eichhornia and 10-28 days in Ipomoea biomass over control. Of the 10 CDMs tested, Mucor sp. was found to be the most effective as Mucor-inoculated biomass required minimum time, i.e. 84, 68 and 80 days respectively for composting of rice straw, Eichhornia and Ipomoea biomass as against 112, 102 and 108 days required under their respective control. CDMs inoculation also narrowed down the C:N ratio of the composts which ranged from 19.1-22.7, 12.9-14.7 and 10.5-13.1 in rice straw, Eichhornia and Ipomoea biomass respectively as against 24.1, 17.1 and 16.2 in the corresponding control treatments. Aspergillus wentii, Fusarium solani, Mucor sp., and Penicillum sp. were found most effective (statistically at par) in reducing C:N ratio and causing maximum loss of carbon and dry matter in composted materials. These benefits of CDMs inoculation were also accompanied by significant increase in NPK contents in the composted materials.