This study investigated how major cropping systems (Rice-Wheat/RWCS, Legume-Based/LBCS, Vegetable-Based/VBCS, Horticulture-Based/HBCS, Salt-Affected/SAS, Pasture/Forest/P/FS) influenced soil physicochemical properties at 0–15 cm depth in Bhadaiya Block, Sultanpur, within India's Indo-Gangetic Plains. The findings revealed severe soil degradation in Salt-Affected Soils (SAS), characterized by the highest bulk density (1.39 Mg m⁻³), pH (8.55), electrical conductivity (1.09 dS m⁻¹), and significantly lower organic carbon (2.97 g kg⁻¹) and available nitrogen (186.64 kg ha⁻¹), phosphorus (12.85 kg ha⁻¹), and potassium (259.25 kg ha⁻¹). Conversely, the Pasture/Forest System (P/FS) demonstrated optimal soil health, exhibiting the lowest bulk density (1.30 Mg m⁻³), highest organic carbon (6.27 g kg⁻¹), and abundant available nutrients (N: 229.28, P: 22.71, K: 280.04 kg ha⁻¹). The study highlights that systems incorporating perennial cover or minimal soil disturbance, such as P/FS and LBCS, actively improve soil fertility and structure, emphasizing the critical need for sustainable land management practices to mitigate degradation in intensively farmed areas.

Groundwater is an essential source of drinking as well as irrigation water. It has recently become a significant challenge to maintain good and safe drinking water for all living beings. The continuous supply of arsenic detected in groundwater poses a severe health problem and has adverse effects on humans and the ecosystem. Researchers also identified arsenic contamination globally across various regions. However, a few studies also identified that the groundwater of Patna, Saran, and Vaishali districts of Bihar is intoxicated by arsenic. To assess the toxic level of arsenic in groundwater, samples from various GPS-based pointed locations were collected from the study area using a GARMIN GPS device. The total concentration of arsenic in drinking water (mostly traces of arsenic, level of μg L−1 or less) can be detected only by sophisticated analytical techniques such as ICP-MS, GF-AAS, and HG-AAS. The standard procedures were followed to determine quality attributes in groundwater. Arsenic contamination persists in most areas and exceeds the permissible limits prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO), negatively impacting the health of more than 10 million people in the state. The 90.47% and 85.71% groundwater samples of the study area exceeded the permissible limit of the WHO (0.01 mg L−1) and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS (0.05 mg L−1), respectively. The analyzed data was obtained, and variability was noticed in total arsenic concentrations ranging from 0.002 to 7.801 mg L−1, with a mean value of 0.87 mg L−1. Similarly, the water quality attribute like total dissolved solids were identified in 14.28% of samples, which crossed 201 to 1026 mg L−1, with a mean value of 375.33 mg L−1.

The spatial variability in soil nutrients was recorded during 2019-2020 at Patna, Vaishali and Saran districts of Bihar, India which are adjoined to Ganga river. The soil samples were collected from pin pointed locations using GPS device to obtain the exact local coordinates of each sampling site and subsequently the protocol for sampling procedure was followed. Then, soil properties, viz., pH, electrical conductivity (EC), soil organic carbon (SOC), available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and available iron (Fe) content were analysed in the laboratory. Descriptive statistics were applied to explain the normality status of soil properties The data of skewness and kurtosis for soil pH at 0–15 cm soil depth were negative (-0.72) and (-0.55). Standard deviation of available nitrogen, phosphorus and available iron was found equal to 1/3 of mean indicating the non-normality of the distribution of parameter of data. In sub-surface soil, the value of kurtosis was recorded negative values with pH, OC, available N whereas, positive data recorded with EC, available P, K and Fe respectively. The correlation coefficients indicated that organic carbon was positively correlated with available N, P and K and available iron had negative correlation. The negative correlation was also noticed with available iron with pH, EC, SOC, available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium at 0-15 cm soil depth. Spatial distribution maps of soil properties were developed for these districts using kriging interpolation techniques in a GIS environment. The generated maps of soil fertility parameter could be helpful to the farmers and policy makers.

A field experiment was conducted at Research Farm, Dr. RPCAU Pusa, Bihar during kharif 2018 on calcareous sandy loam soil, having pH 8.57, medium in soil organic carbon content (0.65 %), EC 0.35 dSm-1, available nitrogen (195 kg/ha), available phosphorus (26.63 kg/ha) and available potassium (134 kg/ha). Experiment was laid-out in split-plot designand replicated thrice. Main-plot included three crop establishment methods, viz. dry direct-seeded rice (DSR-dry), wet direct-seeded rice (DSR-wet) and puddled transplanted rice (TR). In sub-plots, five nutrient management methods T1- 100% STCR Based Dose of Fertilizer + ZnSO4 @ 25 kg ha-1 (DF), T2-75% DF + 25% STCR based Recommended Dose of Nitrogen (RDN) through Vermicompost, T3-100% STCR based RDN through Vermicompost, T4- 100% DF + 50% STCR based RDN through Vermicompost and T5-50% DF + 25% STCR based RDN throughVermicompost. The post-harvest soil was analysed to evaluate the effect of different nutrient management methods on soil microbial biomass Carbon (SMBC), soil microbial biomass Nitrogen(SMBN), Microbial population and Dehydrogenase Enzyme (DH) activity under the three different establishment methods. The results indicated that fungal and bacterial population was higher in transplanted rice while actinomycetes population was higher in DSR-dry.The microbial population count was highest under T3-100% RDNfollowed by T4-100% DF + 50% RDN.The DH, MBC and MBN recorded higher values of 28.74 μg TPF g-1 hr-1, 292.6 mg kg-1 and 32.20 mg kg-1 respectively under transplanted rice whereas, DSR-dry recorded lower value.The DH, SMBC and SMBN were significantly influenced by the application of T3-100% RDNwhich recorded 33.64 μg TPF g-1 hr-1, 317.1 mg kg-1& 33.27 mg kg-1respectively while significantly lower value was recorded with T1-100% DF20.12 μg TPF g1 hr-1, 249.1 mg kg-1and 27.36 mg kg-1 respectively. Therefore it may be concluded that addition of organics (vermicompost) led to improvement of microbial as well as enzymatic activity which was more pronounced in DSR-wet and Transplanted rice.

The present investigation was carried out at Research Farm, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University Pusa, Bihar during kharif 2018 on calcareous sandy loam soil. The experiment was laid-out in a split-plot design (SPD). The main-plot treatments included three crop establishment methods, viz. puddled transplanted rice (M1-TPR), wet direct-seeded rice (M2-DSR-wet) and dry direct-seeded rice (M3-DSR-dry). In sub-plots, five different nutrient management methods were T1 (100% STCR Based Dose of Fertilizer + ZnSO4 @ 25 kg ha-1), T2 (75% DF + 25% STCR based Recommended Dose of Nitrogen through Vermicompost), T3 (100% STCR based Recommended Dose of Nitrogen through Vermicompost), T4 (100% DF + 50% STCR based Recommended Dose of Nitrogen through Vermicompost) and T5 (50% DF + 25% STCR based Recommended Dose of Nitrogen through Vermicompost) were replicated thrice under each method. The results found that the plant height, yield attributing characters(number of tillers per meter square, number of panicles per meter square, filled grains per panicles and test weight) and yield recorded significantly higher values under transplanted rice with T4 (100% DF + 50% STCR based Recommended Dose of Nitrogen through Vermicompost) recording significantly higher values among different nutrient management systems. The economics of all the cultivation practices recorded higher B:C ratio (0.73) and net returns (₹ 34684 ha-1) under DSR-wet with T1 (100% STCR Based Dose of Fertilizer + ZnSO4 @ 25 kg ha-1) giving farmers an alternative method for rice production.

The long-term inclusion of pulses in cropping systems improved the soil fertility, subsequently increased the crop nutrient acquisition and crop productivity. The present research work carried out during 2017-18 at research farm of Tirhut College of Agriculture, Dholi, Muzaffarpur. In the college premises, the various types of types of cropping pattern has been adopted on same piece of land since last more than five years with normal cultivation practices. Soil samples were collected from each treatment (cropping system) at harvesting of crops after completion of one cropping cycle for the analysis of soil Physico-chemical properties. The lowest soil pH exhibited in rice-wheat cropping system followed by pigeon pea cropping system might be attributed to submergence of soil during rice cultivation and greater amount of leaf litters fall throughout crop life cycle in pigeonpea field. The lower value of bulk density (1.21 Mg m-3) and (1.24 Mg m-3) was recorded with mustard mungbean and pigeon pea cropping system. The reduction in bulk density may be attributed to the higher soil organic carbon due to more addition of roots and plant biomass as compared to the fallow land. The variability in Cation Exchange Capacity was ranged from 16.66 to 28.62 (Cmol (P+) kg-1). Mean weight diameter in different treatment varied from 2.51mm to 4.49mm and the highest MWD was recorded in pigeonpea cropping system whereas; the lowest was noticed in fallow lands.

The crop rotations primarily rice-wheat and maize-wheat cropping system in the IndoGangatic Plains of India has caused nutrient imbalance, soil degradation, and due to intensification of crops may deteriorate the soil quality (Ladha et al., 2003; Chauhan et al., 2012). However, the long-term inclusion of pulses in maize-wheat rotation improved the soil fertility, subsequently increased the crop nutrient acquisition and crop International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 9 Number 4 (2020) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com

The downward movement and distribution pattern of lindane and endosulfan in different agricultural soils of Uttar Pradesh, India consisting diverse nature of physico-chemical properties were estimated. The pH of soil ranged from 6.6 to 9.8 indicated that neutral to alkaline in reaction belonging to major textural group viz. sandy loam as well as sandy clay loam and loamy sand. The study showed the maximum retention of lindane and α & β isomers of endosulfan were noticed maximum in different textural group of soils up to 10cm soil column. The recovered amount of lindane fortified soils of Uttar Pradesh were 88.63, 79.02, 84.42, 81.77, 80.16 and 84.79 percent whereas, 89.73, 90.18, 94.39, 87.11, 89.33 and 90.68 of a - isomer and 90.80, 91.33, 92.17, 89.70, 90.27 and 92.12 of b- isomers of endosulfan in Varanasi, Basti, Chandauli, Azamgarh, Mirzapur & Banda soils respectively. The percentage of lindane and a and b isomers of endosulfan effluents received varied from 19.4 to 11.33 and 11.5 to 9.3 and 10.4 to 7.78 percentage. It was also noted that the soil parameters mainly organic matter and high clay content of the tested soil significantly restrict the lower movement of pesticides in soils. The adsorption and limited leaching of pesticides particularly in soil with high organic matter content is indicative of potential of the chemical to undergo limited leaching through soil profile hence reducing the risk of ground water contamination.

A field experiment was conducted at research farm of Tirhut College of Agriculture, Dholi, Bihar during winter (Rabi) season of 2016-17 on sandy loam soil to study the effect of Integrated nutrient management on soil properties, yield and quality of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.). The experiment was laid out in randomized block design (RBD) with eleven treatments and three applications. The results indicated that application of 75% RDF+40kg S+ 5t vermicompost ha-1+Azotobacter+PSB produced the highest grain (1.79 t ha-1), stover yield (6.17t ha-1), oil content (40.86%) and protein content in seed (14.60 %). The free fatty acid content ranged from 1.28 to 1.59%, in different treatments which did not crossed the permissible limit of 2% while erucic acid varied from 44.66 to 51.34% in the mustard oil.

At the demonstration field of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) at Porba village, Phek District, Nagaland entitled “Effect of Integrated Nutrient management on soil properties, growth, and yield of Rajmash in acid soils of Nagaland”. The field experiment was laid out in randomized block design (RBD) with three replications and 18 treatments. The integrated treatments involving both organic and inorganic fertilizer influenced favourably the fertility status of the soil as compared to the control. Available N (331.26 kg ha and 324.11 kg ha) and P (21.46 kg ha and 21.33 kg ha) content of the soil in both the experimental years was found to be highest in treatment T18 (5 ton FYM + Biofertilizer + Lime + 100% NPK). INM practices increased both growth and yield attributes. Organic source of fertilizer along with chemical fertilizer influenced the growth attributes of rajmash than those supplied through chemical fertilizers only, where, T17 (5 ton FYM + Biofertilizer + Lime + 50% NPK) recorded the highest total N, P and K uptake in both the years. In respect of grain and stover yield for both the years, the application of 5 ton FYM + Biofertilizer + Lime + 50% NPK gave the highest grain (9.65 q ha and 9.58 q ha) and stover (10.20 q ha and 10.46 q ha) yield respectively as compared to the other treatments.