Carbon (C) and phosphorus (P) are key drivers in agroecosystems, following nitrogen (N). However, the stoichiometric relationships between C and P fractions and their concentrations in soil have not been thoroughly investigated. Therefore, an experiment was conducted in four districts (Varanasi, Gazipur, Azamgarh, and Jaunpur) of Uttar Pradesh, India with the objectives to: 1) determine the status of available fixed soil P under diverse agroecosystems, 2) identify the best correlation between C and P fractions across different agroecosystems, and 3) explore the potential for mineralization of fixed soil P to enhance soil organic carbon (SOC) content. Experimental sites in each of the four districts were selected based on four agroecosystems: (i) rice (Oryza sativa (T1), (ii) vegetables (T2), (iii) sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) (T3), and (iv) orchard-based agroecosystems (T4). Following a randomized block design (RBD), soil samples were collected from 0–15 cm and 15–30 cm depths in four replications from these agroecosystems. Results show that the soil in Varanasi recorded the highest SOC content of 1.38 and 1.31

Lignocellulosic biomass remains underutilized in anaerobic digestion (AD) due to its recalcitrant structure and limited microbial accessibility. This study investigated the combined effect of dilute-acid pretreatment and Fe3O4 nanoparticle supplementation on biogas production from wheat straw co-digested with cow dung. Wheat straw was pretreated with 1%–4% H2SO4, resulting in notable compositional alterations. Among the pretreatments, 2% H2SO4 increased cellulose content from 38.99% in the untreated straw to 43.63% (approximately 12% relative enrichment) while reducing lignin to 9.84%, indicating improved substrate accessibility. The optimized pretreated wheat straw was subsequently subjected to AD with Fe3O4 nanoparticle supplementation at concentrations of 0–50 mg/L. Characterization of Fe3O4 nanoparticles using XRD, FTIR, SEM, and TEM confirmed their crystalline nanoscale magnetite structure with favourable physicochemical properties for enhanced microbial electron transfer. Biogas production increased with nanoparticle dosage up to 30 mg/L, which produced the highest cumulative biogas yield (273.18 mL g-1 VS), representing an enhancement of approximately 37% over the control. Methane concentration also improved, reaching nearly 66% at this dosage. Kinetic analysis revealed that the modified Gompertz model best described the digestion process (R2 > 0.97), with the highest biogas potential (278.2 mL g-1 VS) and maximum production rate (19.2 mL g-1 VS d-1) observed at 30 mg/L Fe3O4. Overall, the integrated acid pretreatment and nanoparticle supplementation strategy significantly enhanced biogas production, demonstrating a practical and effective strategy for efficient lignocellulosic biomass valorisation through improved biomethane production.

Widespread sulfur (S) deficiency in India is attributed to crop intensification, the use of S-free fertilizers, reduced sulfur dioxide deposition, etc., which is one of the major factors for low oilseed productivity and quality. At present, whatever conventional S fertilizers used by the farmers, exhibit low S recovery (~10%). However, the novel fertilizers like micronized sulfonated urea (MSU), such as sulphonated urea II (US-II), which contains 10% N and 75% S and sulphonated urea I (US-I) contain 40% N and 13% S, with a slow-release nature, have shown potential to improve nutrient use efficiency, soil health, and productivity. However, research on these novel fertilizers is limited, especially with regard to dosage and timing of application and their comparative assessment with conventional S fertilizers on productivity, profitability, and/or on energy, carbon footprints in mustard-mungbean cropping system (MMCS). Therefore, a study was conducted to evaluate MSU (US-I and -II) with ammonium sulfate (AS), bentonite S (BNT), and SSP, applied 100% basal or split (50% basal + 50% as top dressing). The US-II strategic application (15 kg S ha−1 at sowing and 15 kg S ha−1 at 30 days after sowing), significantly (P = 0.05) improved system productivity (17.14%) followed by US-I (16%), ammonium sulfate (6%) and bentonite S (5.14%) over NPK with no S. This treatment has also enhanced oil content (5.69%), protein content (1.81%—mustard; 1.29%—mungbean) and net returns (mustard; 28.13%; mungbean; 14.16%). Furthermore, carbon output (CO2e ha−1), carbon sustainability index, eco-efficiency index ($ kg−1 CO2e), and energy use efficiency (MJ ha−1) were higher under US-II strategic application, which were 15,370, 4.27, 0.49, and 0.17, than without S application, where the values of these parameters were 12,706, 3.38, 0.39, and 0.14, respectively. The CO2 emission intensity (1.06 CO2e kg−1 seed) is lower under US-II strategic application over no-S unfertilized plots (1.28 CO2e kg−1 seed). The study concluded that US-II (15 kg S ha−1 at sowing and 15 kg S ha−1 at 30 days after sowing) improved MMCS productivity, protein and oil content, profitability and carbon-energy nexus of MMCS over conventional S fertilizers (ammonium sulfate, bentonite S, and SSP) and S unfertilized plot.

Soil degradation and declining nutritional security threaten the sustainability of the rice (Oryza sativa L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) system, a cornerstone of agri-food production in South Asia. This intensive production system is increasingly constrained by low nitrogen (N) use efficiency, groundwater depletion, and high energy inputs, necessitating resource-efficient management strategies. A two-year field experiment (2022–2023 and 2023–2024) was conducted on an alluvial Inceptisol to evaluate the effects of conservation-based crop establishment and precision N management on system productivity, soil biological properties, energy use, and profitability. The experiment followed a split-plot design with three crop establishment methods—(i) vattar direct-seeded rice- conventional-till wheat with residue retention (VDSR-CTW+R), (ii) dry direct-seeded rice-zero-till wheat with residue retention (DDSR-ZTW+R), and (iii) puddled (wet tillage) transplanted rice-conventional-till wheat without residue (PTR-CTW-R) —in main plots, and five N management strategies, including modified split application, leaf color chart (LCC)-guided N (threshold ≤3 in rice and ≤4 in wheat), and nano-urea supplementation combined with reduced mineral N (50% and 75% of recommended dose), in subplots. VDSR improved rice grain yield by 6% over DDSR, while ZTW with residue retention increased wheat yield by 7% compared with conventional tillage. LCC-guided N management enhanced rice and wheat yields by 10–12% over farmers’ practice. Substituting 25% mineral N with two foliar sprays of nano-urea maintained yields comparable to 100% recommended N, whereas 50% substitution significantly reduced yields. The DDSR-ZTW+R system achieved the highest system net returns (US$2,430–2,550 ha⁻¹), with 15–17% lower production costs and improved energy performances, reflected in higher output energy and lower specific energy use. Residue retention significantly increased soil microbial biomass carbon (6–9%) and improved root morphological traits, including length, volume, and surface area. Overall, conservation agriculture-based establishment combined with LCC-guided precision N management improved productivity, profitability, energy-use efficiency, and soil biological functioning relative to conventional practices. These findings highlight the potential of integrated conservation and precision nutrient management strategies to enhance resource-use efficiency and sustainability of rice–wheat systems in the Indo-Gangetic Plains.

Rice-wheat system in India plays a crucial role in ensuring food security and sustaining livelihoods of millions of farm families. However, this system is confronted with serious environmental challenges. Furthermore, the practice of burning crop residues significantly contributes to air pollution, reduces soil fertility, and poses risks to respiratory health. To address these, CRM (crop residue management) machineries such as happy seeder, zero-till-drill, and super seeder have been developed and promoted to manage the crop residue in-situ in the field. Several studies have investigated the impact of these technologies in experimental settings and at the individual level, yet they often failed to consider the socio-economic contexts of real-world environments. This gap in research limits the ability to assess the combined effects that are crucial for understanding their relative advantages in financial and environmental terms. In this study, we analyzed a comprehensive dataset of 900 households spanning three states. The impact of CRM technologies was assessed by employing PSM (propensity-score matching), and the robustness of the estimates was further examined by using the IPW (inverse probability weighting) method. The key findings revealed that the adoption of CRM technologies had a positive and statistically significant impact on wheat yield (+251 kg ha-1, +5.68 %) and net income (INR 2070 ha-1, +4.05 %) compared to non-adopters. Among the CRM technologies, the happy seeder showed the highest positive bearing on wheat yield (+8.52 %) and net income (+29.47 %). Further, the adoption of CRM technologies proved highly eco-friendly with a significant reduction in CO2 emissions (-7.15 %). This study suggested policy makers and development agencies to infuse both 'push' and 'pull' mechanism to further promote and integrate the CRM technologies for their wide adoption for long-term sustainability of rice-wheat system in the Indo-Gangetic Plains and to moderate the associated environmental effects.

Sulfur (S) is becoming increasingly widespread in Indian agricultural soils because of intensive cropping, declining soil organic matter, reduced atmospheric deposition and leaching losses, thereby limiting oilseed productivity and soil health. Although micronized sulfur fertilizers offer improved nutrient synchronization, information on their optimum source, rate, and application timing remains limited. A two-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate micronized sulphonated urea formulations (US-I and US-II), applied either as basal or split, in comparison with ammonium sulfate, bentonite sulfur, single superphosphate and sulfur-unfertilized control in Indian mustard. Sulfur uptake followed a distinct temporal pattern, with 8-12% during early vegetative growth, 50-60% from the early vegetative stage to flowering, and 30-40% from flowering to seed filling, highlighting the importance of sustained sulfur availability during reproductive growth. Split application of US-II and US-I significantly improved sulfur availability, nutrient-use efficiency, microbial biomass carbon, dehydrogenase and arylsulfatase activities, and maintained balanced soil nitrogen dynamics compared with conventional sulfur sources. These improvements resulted in the higher nitrogen- and sulfur-use efficiency (48.3 and 24.3%, and 47.5 and 23.0%, respectively), seed yield (2.76 and 2.74 Mg ha−1), and net returns ($1323 and 1277 ha−1) under split application of US-II and US-I, respectively. Overall, synchronizing sulfur supply with crop demand through split application of micronized sulphonated urea enhanced crop productivity, nutrient-use efficiency, profitability, and soil biological functioning. This strategy provides an effective approach for improving sulfur management and promoting sustainable Indian mustard production in semi-arid agroecosystems.

This study investigated the effects of different land-use systems (LUS) and soil management practices (SMP) on soil aggregate stability and the distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N) among aggregate size fractions. The long-term effects of plantation crops (tea and bamboo), horticultural systems (mango and lemon) and conventional agricultural cropping systems (rice-rice, wheat-millets and okra-onion) were evaluated in northeastern India. Soil organic carbon and total nitrogen (TN) were quantified within different aggregate size fractions to assess the influence of LUS and SMP on carbon and nitrogen stabilization. The results showed that uncultivated land exhibited the lowest mean weight diameter (MWD) of aggregates (0.69 mm), while mango land-use recorded the highest value (0.96 mm). Surface soil under tea plantations exhibited the highest TN concentration (1.31 g kg-1), closely followed by mango plantations; both were significantly higher than the concentrations observed in agricultural systems. Across all LUS, macroaggregates were found to hold greater SOC than microaggregates. Notably, tea plantations had the highest SOC levels within microaggregates (13.2 g kg-1), followed by bamboo, highlighting their superior capacity for stabilizing organic carbon. The distribution of total nitrogen within macroaggregates mirrored the pattern observed for SOC. Elevated clay-associated SOC under tree-based systems (tea, mango and bamboo) suggests enhanced long-term carbon stabilization due to the longer residence time of clay-bound organic matter.

Phosphorus deficiency in Indian Inceptisols limits crop production due to high fixation, low availability and poor fertilizer use efficiency. Even with recommended fertilizer dose, much of the applied P becomes unavailable, make strategies that enhance its solubility, recycling and plant uptakes are essential. Wheat-mustard intercropping systems improves P use efficiency through complementary root distribution and enhanced biological activity while phosphorus solubilizing bacteria (PSB), rock phosphate and organic manure further increase P availability and soil health. Therefore, a two-year factorial randomized block design field experiment was conducted with four wheat-based intercropping systems and six phosphorus management practices. The results showed significant improvements in mustard and wheat equivalent yield (MEY/WEY); CS3 and CS4 showed 29.6-34.8% enhancements over CS2, with CS4 slightly superior, while CS3 and CS4 show strong profitability (40-60% higher net returns), with CS3 being slightly superior. Among P management strategies, P5 produced the highest MEY/WEY (34.3-34.6%) and profitability (approximate to 45-48% higher net returns; 18-20% higher B:C), energy output (28-35%) and energy productivity (9.5%) enhancement under P-5 over P1. The CS4 system recorded the highest soluble P (7.91 mg kg-1), organic P (358.4 mg kg-1) and total P (790.4 mg kg-1), corresponding to increases of 24.7, 51.4, and 7.2% over CS1. Microbial P treatments (P-5/P-3) further enhanced P pools, such as soluble P (48.1%), Fe-bound P (29.2%), Ca-bound P (41.1%) and total inorganic P (33.9%) over P-1. The CS4 system reduced bulk density (5.2%), increased soil organic carbon (13.9%), available N (10.6%), P (24.1%) and K (6.3%), along with higher microbial activity and micronutrient availability. Thus, integrating Wheat + mustard (5:2) and 75% RDP + PROM + PSB is recommended, as a productive, energy-efficient and soil-enriching strategy for profitable wheat-based system in P-deficient Inceptisols.

Soil contamination with trace elements and heavy metals is a growing environmental concern, especially in seed spice-growing regions of Rajasthan, where it directly impacts food safety, human health, and environmental sustainability. This study assessed the levels of trace elements in soils and seed spices in Rajasthan, India, to evaluate their potential health risks through consumption based on target hazard quotient (THQ) and hazard index (HI) values. A total of eighty soil and seed spice samples from seven districts of Rajasthan, including Baran, Jodhpur, and Sirohi, were collected and analysed for trace elements using Pearson’s correlation, ANOVA, multiple regression, and principal component analysis (PCA). Significant regional heterogeneity in soil trace element concentrations was observed in the data, with cobalt exhibiting the greatest range (62.1

Ground frost, sulfur (S) deficiency and intermittent drought are major constraints limiting mustard productivity in north-western India and contribute significantly to the existing yield gap. Therefore, a two-year field experiment evaluated different S fertilizers and application timings for improving S nutrition, stress tolerance, growth, physiology and yield of mustard. Seven treatments were tested: US-I, US-II, ammonium sulfate (AS) and bentonite S (BNT) applied at 30 kg S ha-1 at sowing; split applications of US-I and US-II (50% basal + 50% topdressing); and an S-unfertilized plot. S fertilization significantly improved growth, physiology, antioxidant activity and yield compared with the control. Split application of US-II increased leaf area index (3-9%) and crop growth rate (3-32%) and improved dry matter allocation. Antioxidant enzyme activities, superoxide dismutase (4.71-6.10%), glutathione reductase (6.67-8.89%), catalase (6.50-8.83%) and peroxidase (5.51-6.80%), were significantly higher than in the S-unfertilized plot and conventional sources (BNT and AS). Stress mitigation was evident through higher leaf relative water content (36.5%) and reduced canopy temperature (0.97 degrees C). Physiological parameters such as net photosynthetic rate (8.33%), stomatal conductance (10%), transpiration rate (9.26%) and water-use efficiency (6.87%) were also improved under US-II split application. US-II split application produced the highest seed yield (21.6% above control), followed by US-II, US-I, BNT and AS, applied at sowing. In conclusion, split application of micronized S through US-II enhances growth, physiological efficiency, antioxidant defense and yield by alleviating S deficiency and improving tolerance to cold and drought stress.

The agricultural data for the study was collected from 2010–11 to 2023–24 aimed to assess the potential of in situ and ex situ rice (Oryza sativa L.) residue management technologies in Punjab. The residue burning issue has intensified in the state’s highly mechanized rice–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping system (RWCS) due to an insufficient number of Crop Residue Management (CRM) machines. The actual number of CRM machineries required to cover the total area under the RWCS were estimated in order to manage rice residues of the state completely. Based on maturity of prominent rice varieties, predicted timeframe is of only 10 days to operate CRM machines effectively. Potential area coverage of CRM machineries was estimated for selected time frames (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 days) and the possible combinations of CRM machinery were suggested based on operational time window available for both timely and delayed scenarios between rice and wheat crops. Feasibility of Super Straw management System (SMS) followed by both Happy Seeder and Super Seeder to cover total rice cultivated area were analysed and predicted. It revealed that the time window of 15, 20, 25 and 30 days to operate Happy Seeders in the state can cover only 13.22%, 27.23%, 34.03% and 40.84% of the cultivable area while Super Seeder can cover 17.17%, 34.35%, 42.94% and 51.51% area, respectively. Additionally, the ex situ management potential for 2024–25 was estimated at a gross residue of 21.98 MT, surplus residue of 5.71 MT, and an annual power generation potential of 994.4 MW with a CGAR of 2.04%.

Several practices including the use of chemical, physical, and antimicrobial agents have been performed in the last century to extend shelf life and development of pathogen resistance in several vegetables and fruits but in recent decades, biotechnological approaches viz-antisense RNA technology, genetic engineering, genome editing are also proved to be useful. Ripening in fruits is delayed by inhibiting ethylene production and regulating ethylene–ethylene receptor binding and signaling pathway. Several other postharvest attributes had been improved by genetic engineering including improvement in taste through producing seedless fruits through down-regulating genes involved in auxin signaling, RNA interference in Aucsia genes expression, and ovule-specific expression of iaaM gene, and the problem of the bitterness of Kinnow mandarin juice was solved by recombinational expression of α-l-rhamnosidase in citrus fruits. All these efforts help fulfill the desires and expectations of consumers and producers.

With rapid global urbanization and rising water demand, the carbon footprint and impact of energy consumption in groundwater extraction are expected to increase, exacerbating the global warming situation. Within such a context, this case study, through its varied perspective, highlights the importance of a rise in pump efficiency, backed up by efficient demand management and policy measures as one of the foremost measures to address the environmental sustainability indicators, groundwater level depletion that can be impacted by growing water and energy demanding sectors like domestic, industrial and irrigation. With rapid urbanization, the cities have emerged as a point of intense groundwater abstraction and in the changing climatic scenario become a significant environmental influencer that needs attention of planners andpolicemakersGroundwater level depletion over the last 40 years has contributed to approximately 40% of electricity consumption due to groundwater extraction and has increased annual carbon emissions by 8.5 times in Faridabad City, India. The case study highlights the necessity for integrated, futuristic energy, economic, and water policy planning, as well as its execution at the city level, through a proactive new vision and the role of municipal bodies in cities like Faridabad globally. It also calls for a new approach to city-level municipal governance structures to understand the triangular connection between energy consumption, water demand, and the city of Faridabad’s carbon footprint through more robust, integrated city-level master plans. These plans recognize the need for integrated water, energy, and economic policies for the cities like Faridabad.

The COVID-19 pandemic drastically disrupted global education, exacerbating pre-existing disparities in access, equity, and quality. Digital learning emerged as a crucial solution, offering innovative pathways to address these challenges while simultaneously revealing persistent barriers. This paper critically examines the transformative potential of digital learning in reshaping education post-pandemic, with a focus on its capacity to reduce disparities, promote inclusivity, and advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—specifically SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). Through an extensive review of over 100 studies, case studies, and meta-analyses, the paper highlights key advancements, such as increased access to education for underserved populations, the rise of adaptive learning platforms, and significant progress in teacher training. However, challenges like the digital divide, socio-economic inequalities, and inadequate infrastructure continue to hinder progress, necessitating targeted interventions. The review proposes actionable strategies to enhance digital infrastructure, improve digital literacy, and foster cross-sector collaboration between governments, technology providers, and educational institutions. Emphasizing the importance of context-specific, localized solutions, the paper underscores the need for inclusive education systems tailored to the needs of marginalized communities. The findings underscore digital learning’s potential to mitigate inequalities, expand opportunities, and contribute to achieving global educational goals. Ultimately, this paper calls for a comprehensive and inclusive approach to digital education that not only addresses current disparities but also creates resilient, sustainable education systems capable of withstanding future crises and advancing global development.

Cotton production is negatively affected by both biotic (diseases and insects) and abiotic (high temperature, salinity, water deficit, and extreme pH) factors. Soil-borne diseases, especially wilts and rots, significantly reduce cotton yield. Thus, we aimed to isolate and identify multi-stress tolerant bacterial antagonistic agents (AGAs) against two major soil-borne pathogens, Macrophomina phaseolina and Fusarium oxysporum. A total of 132 isolates with distinct morphologies were recovered from 25 different rhizospheric soil samples of cotton. A dual culture plate and broth assay confirmed the antagonistic activity of the isolates against these phytopathogens. Four selected AGAs thrived in salt stress induced by different NaCl concentrations, up to 1.71 M, except for isolate 62, which survived up to 0.85 M. Under osmotic stress, all the AGAs were tolerant of up to − 1.03 MPa. Similarly, all the AGAs were able to survive over a temperature range of 20–50 ◦C except for isolate 62, which survived up to 45 ◦C and was regarded as thermotolerant. All four AGAs were able to grow at pH values ranging from 5 to 9. AGA 18 and S46-7 survived under highly acidic conditions (pH 4). These multi-stress tolerant AGAs also exhibited different plant growth-promoting activities, such as mineral solubilization, ACC-deaminase production, and IAA production. Molecular identification revealed the following AGAs: Bacillus siamensis SSVP1 (18), Bacillus halotolerans SSVP2 (34), Pseudomonas aeruginosa SSVP3 (62), and Bacillus tequilensis SSVP4 (S46-7). AGAs with multiple stress tolerance traits can serve as potential biocontrol agents in the field to reduce pesticide consumption in cotton-growing areas.

Introduction: Leaching losses of applied N are an indirect source of nitrous oxide (N2O) emission, a major greenhouse gas emitted from fertilized soils. Mineral nitrogen (N) leaching research has largely concentrated on nitrate (NO3-), while ammonium (NH4+) leaching remains understudied. The cultivation conditions for rice and wheat are distinctly different, impacting the leaching losses of both NH4+ and NO3-. Methods: This study investigated the influence of different N treatments, i.e., no-N control, neem coated urea (NCU-N 100%; 120 kgN ha(-1)), 60 kgN ha(-1) Neem coated urea +30 kgN ha(-1) compost (75% N); 90 kgN ha(-1) Neem coated urea +30 kgN ha(-1) compost (100% N) and 120 kgN ha(-1) Neem coated urea +30 kgN ha(-1) compost (125% N) in comparison with prilled urea (PU, 120 kgN ha(-1)). Compost was applied @ 2.6 tonnes ha(-1) to all integrated treatments to provide 30 kgN ha(-1). Results and discussion: The peak concentration of soil NH4+ and NO3- was delayed by two-three days in NCU and integrated NCU + compost compared to PU in both rice and wheat, due to the slow-release effect of neem oil coating in NCU. In rice, the percolation rate of water was almost half than in wheat soil. The mineral N leaching loss in rice ranged from 0.4 to 4.6 kg NH4+-N ha(-1) and 0.46-5.12 kg NO3-N ha(-1) during the 2 years. In an annual rice-wheat cycle, the total N leaching loss was 6.2%-7.0% of the applied N fertilizer. The total mineral N loss was higher in PU than NCU by 7.8% and 10% in rice and wheat, respectively. Substitution of 25% of mineral N with compost decreased the total N leaching by 14.8% and 10.3% in rice and wheat, respectively, compared to NCU (100%). The crop N uptake increased significantly (p < 0.05) with NCU and integrated NCU + compost (100%) over PU. Application of 125%-N significantly increased the total mineral N leaching. The total mineral-N leaching loss was 15.9% higher in rice than wheat across the different treatments. The integrated N application, combining 75% NCU and 25% compost, can reduce mineral-N leaching, improve nitrogen uptake and maintain economic yields in rice-wheat cropping system.

The World Bank estimates that industries generate 2 billion tonnes of waste annually, contributing to pollution, resource inefficiencies, and environmental degradation. These issues emphasize the need for sustainable waste management. Similarly, the rice-wheat cropping system in South Asia faces challenges like declining soil fertility, excessive chemical use, and low resource efficiency, leading to reduced productivity, environmental impact, and climate vulnerability. To create long-run eco-friendly farming, this study designed to use compost derived from recycled industrial by-products to lower the fertilizer load and input energy in wheat-rice farming. A split-plot design was used for the study from 2018 to 2021. Four nutrient sources were applied in the main plot, and a combination of three industrial wastes and waste decomposers made into nine treatment combinations were used in the subplot. Based on an average of four years of data, in the main plot, treatment 100 % crop nutrition practices (CNP) of nitrogen (N)-phosphorus (P)-potassium (K) + 5 kg zinc (Zn) + 5 kg iron (Fe) had 62.0 % (wheat) and 37.8 % (rice) more grain energy output than control. On the other hand, compared to bagasse + Pleurotus sajor-caju, the sub-plot with treatment carpet waste + Trichoderma viride showed 36.4 % (wheat) and 21.4 % (rice) higher grain energy output. Further, in the main plot, 100 % CNP of NP2O5-K2O + 5 kg Fe + 5 kg Zn had found a 25.3 % (wheat) and 36.7 % (rice) higher energy BC ratio than the control. Furthermore, compared to bagasse + Pleurotus sajor-caju, carpet waste + Trichoderma viride had an 18.2 and 21.3 % higher energy BC ratio of wheat and rice in the sub-plot treatment. Regarding a different parameter, the 100 % CNP of N-P2O5-K2O + 5 kg Fe + 5 kg Zn in the main plot showed 19.4 and 33.4 % higher energy intensity in economic terms (EIET) of rice and wheat, respectively, compared to the control. Further, carpet waste + Trichoderma viride had 14.6 and 10.4 % more EIET of wheat and rice than bagasse + Pleurotus sajor-caju in the subplot. Based on the combined effect of, 100 % CNP of N-P2O5-K2O + 5 kg Fe + 5 kg Zn × Trichoderma viride + carpet waste was noted to be a maximum of 1595.0 and 1229.4 Mega joule per day (MJ day-1) (1 MJ = 106 J) energy output efficiency (EOE) of wheat and rice, respectively. Moreover, the net energy return was higher at 1187 and 834 US$ ha-1 of wheat and rice was observed in 100 % CNP of N-P2O5-K2O + 5 kg Fe + 5 kg Zn × Trichoderma viride + carpet waste, respectively. In the case of wheat, biomass energy productivity had a negative relationship with both total energy output and biomass net energy, according to the Pearson correlation matrix. This study highlights the potential of recycled industrial waste compost (IWC) to reduce synthetic input reliance, enhance EUE, and establish a cost-effective energy circulation system in the RWS. It will fulfil the agenda of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)sEnergy-Smart Food (ESF) program to achieve energy sustainability in food systems and thus offers a scalable model for sustainable agriculture with future implications for climate-resilient farming and eco-friendly policy development.