International Journal of Plant & Soil Science
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Impact of Sowing Time on Insect Pest Incidence of Soybean, Glycine max (L.) in Kashmir, India
No full textSoybean (Glycine max) is a versatile legume crop crucial for global food security, edible oil production, livestock feed and soil health through crop rotation. The present study investigated the effect of three sowing dates on insect pest incidence as well as on yield of soybean crop. Seven insect pests were found to be associated with the crop belonging to three major insect orders viz., Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci), Aphid (Aphis fabae), Jassid(Apheliona maculosa), and Thrips (Thrips tabaci) from order Hemiptera and two species of Flea beetle (Alticahimensis and Luperomorpha xanthodera) of order Coleoptera, Cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni) of Lepidoptera. The crop sown on the first sowing date (10th June, 2023) had the highest infestation of sucking pests as compared to the other two sowing dates (25th June and 10th July, 2023) and observed that with the delay in sowing of soybean crops the population of sucking pest decreases while highest infestation of defoliators was recorded in crops sown on the third sowing date (10th July, 2023) than soybean crop sown earlier. The study concludes that the sowing time significantly influences the incidence of all documented insect pest, with the exception for the cabbage looper, as well as on the yield of soybean. The maximum grain yield was harvested from the crop sown on 10th of June, 2023 (1145 kg/ha) as these plants exhibited greater bushiness and vitality, characterized by a higher pod than other sowing dates (836.24 kg/ha for crop sown on 25th June and 746.66 kg/ha for crop sown on 10th July, 2023). Furthermore, the present study establishes that there was no significant yield reduction attributed to insect pests, as all recorded pests remained below the economic threshold level
Constraints in Irrigated Lowland Rice Cultivation as Affected by the Harmattan in Guinean Savanna Zone of Central Côte d\u27Ivoire
No full textLowland rice accounts for about 36% of the total rice area in Côte d\u27Ivoire and contributes over 20% of total paddy production. Lowland rice cultivation under flooded or irrigated conditions has a potential average yield of 6-8 t/ha, with the possibility of two cropping cycles per year. Despite the availability of water in these lowlands, which could allow three cropping cycles per year, farmers are limited to two cycles due to the impact of the Harmattan, which occurs in the last trimester of the year and severely affects yields. Harmattan is characterised by low temperatures associated with dusty winds during two-thirds of the dry season in the bimodal rainfall area of the Guinea savannah in West Africa. This particular climate adversely affects rice production even in irrigable lowland perimeters, allowing only one cycle of rice production instead of two or three. In order to improve rice production in this agroclimate, it is necessary to diagnose the constraints. Two agronomic trials were conducted in the irrigable valley of M\u27bé II, in a Guinea savannah zone of central Côte d\u27Ivoire. The first trial was an omission trial (Fc-N, Fc-P, Fc-K, Fc-Ca, Fc-Mg and Fc-Zn) with a complete fertiliser (Fc) consisting of 30 kg N ha-1, 60 kg P ha-1, 50 kg K ha-1, 50 kg Ca ha-1, 50 kg Mg ha-1 and 10 kg Zn ha-1. The control was no fertiliser treatment. All treatments consisted of NPK applied at the same rates and Ca (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg ha-1), Mg (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg ha-1) and Zn (0, 10, 20 and 30 kg ha-1) added in the respective treatments. The application of N, K and Mg can increase the yield of irrigated rice in the Harmattan period. Further improvement can be observed by combining 90 kg Ca ha-1 with NPK
Predicting the Effects of Climate Change on the Habitat Suitability of Long-spurred Habenaria in Peninsular India
No full textEndemic plant species are increasingly at risk due to global climate change and anthropogenic pressures, making the prediction of suitable habitats essential for their conservation. Habenaria longicorniculata is an endemic terrestrial orchid species of Peninsular India, currently facing threats due to climate change and anthropogenic activities. Identifying suitable habitats for these species is crucial for effective conservation planning. In this study, species distribution modeling was performed using MaxEnt to assess the current and future habitat suitability of H. longicorniculata under various Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs). 141 occurrence records were used for the prediction model. The model revealed high predictive accuracy, with an AUC value of 0.927 (±0.037). Results indicate a significant reduction in suitable habitat, projected to decline by 44.41% to 74.92% under future climate scenarios. Future distributions will likely become restricted to limited regions in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. The Jackknife test revealed that bioclimatic variables Bio5 (max temperature of the warmest month) and Bio8 (mean temperature of the wettest quarter) are the most influential in determining species distribution. Overall, the study makes a significant contribution to species conservation and provides valuable input for future research and decision-making
Effect of Trichoderma, Organic Manure and Inorganic Fertilizer on Growth, Flowering and Post-harvest Parameters in Rose cv. Top Secret
No full textThe present investigation was conducted from 2023 to 2025 at the Horticulture Research Farm and Post-harvest Laboratory, Department of Horticulture, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, featuring nine nutrient treatments that included various combinations of farmyard manure (FYM), vermicompost and recommended fertilizer doses (RDF). These were divided into two groups, viz., Trichoderma inoculated plants and Trichoderma uninoculated plants, to assess their effects on growth, flowering and postharvest quality of rose cv. Top Secret, under open ventilated polyhouse conditions. The experiment was conducted using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with nine different treatments, each replicated five times. The treatments included: T1 (100% RDF), T2 (100% FYM), T3 (100% Vermicompost), T4 (75% FYM + 25% Vermicompost), T5 (50% FYM + 50% Vermicompost), T6 (25% FYM + 75% Vermicompost), T7 (50% FYM + 50% RDF), T8 (50% Vermicompost + 50% RDF) and T9 (Control, no fertilizer), each examine with and without Trichoderma inoculation. Significant differences were recorded across all measured parameters. The maximum plant height (107.08 cm) and the highest number of leaves (189.76) were found in T7 with Trichoderma inoculated and flower production (27.69 flowers/plant) was also in the same. Early bud initiation (26.14 days), the longest vase life (16.12 days) occurred in T7 with Trichoderma inoculation and the highest anthocyanin content (620.66 mg/100g) occurred in T3 with Trichoderma inoculation. These findings suggest that integrated nutrient management using a combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers, along with Trichoderma, can significantly enhance the growth, flowering and postharvest quality of rose cv. Top Secret under protected cultivation
Optimizing Soil Nutrient Bioavailability in Cotton through Potassium Solubilizing Microbial Interventions
No full textCotton crop was evaluated during the kharif season of 2022 to assess the response to various potassium solubilizers in combination with the recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) on changes in macro and micro soil nutrients. The field experiment was conducted on Vertisol at the Research Farm, ICAR-All India Network Project on Soil Biodiversity and Biofertilizer, Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani. The study involved ten treatments replicated thrice in a randomized block design, comprising eight potassium solubilizing bacteria KSB-W1 (Bacillus spp.), KSB-PD-3-A (Bacillus spp.), KSB-NP-3 (Bacillus spp.), KSB-PD-3-A (Bacillus spp.), KSB-M-1 (Pseudomonas spp.), KSB-M-2 (Pseudomonas spp.), KSB-M-3 (Sinorhizobium metallidans), Fraturia auruntia, and Pseudomonas striata applied along with RDF. Cotton seeds were treated with Azatophos, and RDF was applied at sowing, while microbial cultures were applied 15 days after sowing (DAS). Overall, the results indicated that the treatment combinations of RDF + Fraturia auruntia and RDF + Psudomonos striata significantly improved the availability of macro-nutrients (N, P₂O₅, K₂O) and micro-nutrients (DTPA-extractable Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu) in the soil, showing their potential in enhancing soil fertility and nutrient uptake in cotton cultivation
Phenotypic Characterization and Association Analysis of Morphological Traits in Diverse Rice Genotypes (Oryza sativa L.)
No full textThis study evaluates the morphological traits of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and their interrelationships using Pearson correlation coefficients. Morphological traits are critical for understanding genetic diversity and guiding breeding applications. Strong positive correlations, such as between leaf auricle and collar presence or panicle awn presence and length, emphasize linked traits that can be targeted together for improvement, while moderate and negative correlations reveal potential trade-offs and complementary traits for selection. The independence of traits like sterile lemma color and node coloration offers flexibility in breeding without affecting other characteristics. Cluster 1, with its unique morphological traits, provides a source of genetic diversity and resilience, while Cluster 2 represents genotypes with moderate similarity, ideal for enhancing adaptability and yield potential through crossbreeding. Cluster 3, comprising widely cultivated genotypes, serves as a stable genetic base for maintaining high yield and disease resistance, and Cluster 4, with its specialty traits like aroma and stress tolerance, offers opportunities for developing premium rice varieties
Critical Analysis of Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration in Agrarian Lands in the Semi-arid Tropics of Peninsular India
No full textIn nature, forests perpetuate themselves through natural regeneration, largely by self-sown seeds, through the process of secondary succession on degraded or deforested land, and more or less in a similar way, perennial vegetation regeneration occurs on croplands, maybe less vigorously. Traditionally, farmers manage such natural regeneration on their cropland for economic (food, fodder, fuelwood, timber) and ecological benefits (shade, protection, and soil conservation). However, the retention of trees on the farmland by the farmer is influenced by heterogenic factors (landholding size, climate and biophysical factors, and utility of the species). The present investigation on farmer-managed natural regeneration (FMNR) under the rainfed agroecosystem of peninsular India revealed a lot of variability. There were as many as 19 tree species belonging to 17 genera and 12 families, and most of them were indigenous (94.74%) to the region. Of these, eight were edible fruit bearers, six were fodder-yielding, and the remaining five were timber tree species. Further, neem (Azadirachta indica) was the dominant tree species (7.88 ha-1), followed by babul (Acacia nilotica), desert mesquite (Prosopis juliflora), ber (Ziziphus mauritiana), and morinda (Morinda pubescens). Most of these trees were located on the boundary (48.75%), and the remaining mostly occurred on the bunds (38.33%), while a few (12.92%) were found scattered over the farmland. Significantly higher species density (mean number of species) and tree density (trees per ha) were observed with large farmers (holding size > 4 ha) (4.42 and 28.23, respectively), followed by medium farmers (holding size 2–4 ha), while significantly lower species density and tree density were observed with small farmers (holding size < 2.0 ha) (3.39 no. and 9.61ha-1, respectively), productive land being a constraint with smallholders. Similarly, significantly higher species density and tree density occurred on the boundary of the farmland (4.00 no. and 18.9 ha-1, respectively), followed by bund-oriented trees. Similarly, significantly lower species density and tree density were observed among the scattered plantations of the farmland (2.87 no. and 6.48 ha-1, respectively). However, there were no significant differences among the villages with species and tree density. In all, retention of species and density were largely influenced by the size of landholding, mostly in untilled areas, and the retention depended on the utility and characteristics of the species. The tree population on the boundary of the farmland mostly comprised thorny species, probably for protection from stray animals. Further, the predominance of neem trees in the study was attributed to their adaptability to the prevailing environment, multiple utility, and regeneration characteristics, besides their easy dispersal by birds. Finally, it is suggested to conserve a few species such as Wrightia tinctoria, Acacia ferruginea, Cordia dichotoma, Balanites roxburghii, Bauhinia racemose, and Ficus glomerate for their ecosystem services
Response of Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L) Yield to Fertilization in Titanium-Mined Reconstituted Soils, Kenya
No full textCotton has historically played a vital role in Kenya’s agricultural economy, supporting smallholder farmers and supplying raw material for the textile industry. However, recent years have seen a troubling decline in cotton yields, threatening rural incomes and the sustainability of the cotton value chain. A field experiment was conducted in Kwale County’s at base titanium mining company during May–August 2022 and September–December 2023 to assess how combinations of sunnhemp (a green manure), farmyard manure (FYM), and inorganic fertilizers affect cotton yield in different soil conditions. Using a Randomized Complete Block Design with 10 treatment combinations replicated three times across four soil conditions (undisturbed, mined with topsoil, reconstituted without topsoil, and reconstituted with topsoil), the study involved 120 plots. Treatments included various rates of FYM, sunnhemp, and NPK fertilizer. Key data collected included initial soil properties and cotton yield traits such as boll weight, lint weight, and seed characteristics. Results showed that the combination of 200 kg NPK fertilizer and sunnhemp significantly increased the number of bolls (by 77.3%), lint weight (by 86.6%), and overall yield (by 72%) compared to control. The study recommends integrated nutrient management using sunnhemp, FYM, and inorganic fertilizers for rehabilitating mined lands and boosting cotton productivity, emphasizing the need for long-term, site-specific research
Soil Characteristics Across Various Landform Sequences in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, India
No full textThe present study explores about soil Morphology and its Variations across Landform Sequences in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, India. To maintain soil productivity and prevent land degradation, scientifically managing soil resources is crucial, requiring precise and comprehensive land resource information. Vertisols make up the majority of the soils, according to the investigation. On hills, hill slopes and pediments, soils are moderately shallow due to severe erosion, with yellow-red hues (7.5 YR 5/3) indicating excessively-drained to somewhat excessive, sandy clay loam to gravelly clay textures. In the upper undulating, lower plain and alluvial plains, soils are moderately deep to very deep and influenced by sediment deposition with textures ranging from clay loam and clay and greyer hues (10YR 4/2) indicating waterlogging. Soil structure varies from medium, weak sub-angular blocky on hills to stronger blocky structures in lower, altered areas. Diagnostic horizons include a thick Ap horizon up to 25 cm in the pediment, a Bt horizon up to 24 cm in upper undulating and a well-developed Bw horizon in alluvial plains, reflecting stages of pedogenesis. Overall, the study highlights the complex interactions between topography, hydrology and soil properties across the Bilaspur region
Impact of Biochar, Organic Manures and Inorganic Fertilizers on Nutrient Uptake and Yield in Rice Crop
No full textA field experiment was conducted at Agricultural college Farm, Bapatla during 2023-2024 to study the effect of biochar, organic manures and inorganic fertilizers on nutrient uptake and yield of rice crop. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with eight treatments and three replications. The treatments consist of 100% RDF in combination with organic manures (poultry manure, green leaf manure and FYM) and biochar. Data on N, P and K uptake by grain and straw at harvest and grain and straw yield were recorded. Results revealed that the rice grain and straw yield (kg ha-1) was maximum in treatment T5 i.e.,100% RDF + poultry manure @ 5 t ha−1 (6041) and minimum in control T1 - 100% RDF (5013). The rice grain N and P uptake was maximum in T5 (74.25, 40.56 kg ha-1 in 2023 and 76.48, 42.56 in 2024), and minimum in T1 (48.45, 27.24 kg ha-1 in 2023 and 52.24, 30.78 in 2024), respectively. Similarly, rice straw N and P uptake was maximum in T5 (76.48, 25.40 kg ha-1 in 2023 and 78.83, 29.93 in 2024) and minimum in T1 (49.29, 15.98 kg ha-1 in 2023 and 51.62, 18.35 in 2024), respectively. Finally, it can be recommended that rice grain and straw yield was maximum in combined application of both inorganic and organic sources of nutrients compared to inorganic fertilizers alone