International Journal of Plant & Soil Science
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Spatial Variation of Soil Fertility in North Sikkim, India
No full textA research investigation was carried out in 2024 to evaluate the spatial variation of soil nutrients in soils of North Sikkim across five regions viz. Mangan, Dzongu, Ringhim, Kabi, and Chungthang through real-time analysis of soil fertility parameters, taking 3,750 samples. Key parameters assessed included pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon, macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur), and micronutrients (zinc, boron, iron, Manganese, and copper). To analyze 3,750 soil samples with uneven distributions, weighted statistical methods were used to account for sampling variability. Mean comparisons were conducted using One-way ANOVA, followed by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test at a significance level of α =.05 to assess statistical differences and classify locations based on their similarity in soil characteristics. The results indicated a highly acidic soil environment, with pH ranging from 4.865 ± 0.021 to 4.880 ± 0.020, potentially affecting nutrient availability. Organic carbon levels ranged from 0.50% ± 0.050 to 0.70% ± 0.047. Nitrogen and phosphorus were critically deficient, which ranged from 157.9 ± 9.86 to 161.234 ± 10.102 kg/ha and from 18.9 ±1.430 to 19.4 ± 1.435 kg/ha, respectively, posing significant constraints for crop productivity. Potassium was at a medium level (233.92 ± 7.800 kg/ha to 236.3 ± 7.708 kg/ha), while sulphur, zinc, and copper were within adequate ranges. However, the study revealed excessive iron concentrations (mean: 98.18 ±0.222 mg/kg) and widespread boron deficiency (mean: 0.282 ± 0.002 mg/kg), which could lead to physiological disorders in crops. The findings emphasized the urgent need for restoring soil pH and improving overall soil health. It was observed from elaborate analyses that distance among the study regions and DEM derived variables also influenced spatial distribution of soil fertility characteristics. Insights from the current soil testing would drive the implementation of balanced nutrient management strategies, optimizing soil fertility and ensuring sustainable agricultural productivity. Given Sikkim\u27s distinction as the world\u27s only fully organic state, these measures are essential for preserving the productivity of high-value crops such as ginger, large cardamom, cherry pepper, and vegetables. This study would serve as a foundational step in retaining Sikkim\u27s significance as the only organic state on the global map through the holistic management of soil health, ensuring long-term sustainability and productivity
Effect of Organic Amendments and Micronutrient Foliar Application on Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana L.) Productivity under Calcareous Soil of Tamil Nadu
No full textAims: To study the effect of organic amendments and micronutrient foliar sprays on the growth and yield of finger millet in calcareous soils, which suffer from low organic matter and limited availability of essential micro and macro nutrients, hindering crop growth and productivity.
Study Design: Factorial Randomised Block Design.
Place and Duration of Study: The field experiment was carried out during the rabi season from September 2024 – December 2024 at Instructional south farm in Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
Methodology: The field trial was laid out with three replications, and the treatments comprised soil amendments in factor (S) viz., S1- Pongamia seed cake @ 1.46 t ha-1 +100 %RDF, S2 - Neem seed cake @ 1.25 t ha-1 + 100 % RDF, S3- Castor seed cake @ t ha-1 + 100 % RDF, S4 - FYM @ 12.5 t ha-1 + 100 % RDF, S5- 100% RDF alone (Control) and foliar application of micronutrients in factor F viz., F1- Fe-EDTA 0.2% @ 30 and 45 DAS, F2- Zn-EDTA 0.5% @ 30 and 45 DAS, F3- Mn-EDTA 0.5% @ 30 and 45 DAS, F4- No spray (Control).
Results: The results showed that the application of Pongamia seed cake @ 1.46 t ha-1+100% RDF + Fe-EDTA 0.2% @ 30 and 45 DAS significantly improved the physiological parameters, such as RGR and NAR, and the growth characteristics, such as LAI, number of leaves per plant, and stem girth, with higher grain yield (2891 kg ha-1) and straw yield (5752 kg ha-1)
Salinity Mitigation of Tomato by Application of Chitosan and Organic Manures
No full textAims: The present study was designed to assess the role of chitosan and organic manures on tomato plant growth and productivity under saline condition.
Study Design: The experiment was carried out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications.
Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted at farmers’ field in the Kolapara thana under Patuakhali district during November 2023 to March 2024.
Methodology: Two-factor experiment with sixteen treatment combinations consisted of four chitosan level viz., control, 250, 500 and 1000 ppm; and four different organic manures (No manure, cowdung (10 t/ha), vermicompost (10 t/ha) and, farm yard manure (10 t/ha)). Thirty days old healthy seedlings were transplanted in the experimental plots in the afternoon of 15 December 2023 maintaining a spacing of 60 × 40 cm2 between the rows and plants, respectively. The plot size was 1.8 × 1.2 m2 with 9 seedlings were planted in each plot. The seedlings were watered after transplanting. After transplanting the seedlings, different intercultural operations were done whenever necessary for better grow and development of the plants.
Results: The study results exhibited that most of the parameters were significantly influenced by the different concentration of chitosan and organic manures. Among the treatment combination, chitosan 500ppm showed the longest plant (119.37 cm), the largest leaves (35.80 cm), the maximum number of flowers per cluster (6.89), the maximum number of fruits per clusters (7.50), the highest fruits weight per plant (4.86 kg) and yield (43.74 t/ha) of tomato in combination with vermicompost (10 t/h) under saline condition.
Conclusion: The present studied results revealed that foliar application of chitosan alone or in combination with manures had positive impact on growth and yield contributing characters of tomato under saline condition
Inventory and Taxonomy of the Loranthaceae of Cocoa Agrosystems in the Peri-urban Areas of Daloa, Centre-West, Côte d\u27Ivoire
No full textParasitic plants of the Loranthaceae family, hemiparasites living on the branches of many spontaneous or cultivated trees and shrubs, occur in clumps and are widespread in Côte d’Ivoire, particularly in agrosystems. The aim of this study is to assess the diversity and systematics of parasitic species in agrosystems of cocoain the peri-urban areas of Daloa. Four species of Loranthaceae were identified during roving inventory surveys: Globimetula dinklagei, Phragmanthera capitata, Tapinanthus bangwensis and T. globiferus. Systematic analysis of the genera and species of these parasitic plants, based on morphological and taxonomic criteria, enabled them to be identified and classified within the Loranthaceae family. This study showed that the main parasitic species are P. capitata and T. bangwensis, with a high preponderance of T. bangwensis (2,634 clumps, or 48.87 %). Our results also showed that the attachment and development of these parasites in the canopy are influenced by light and shade. These results, discussed in relation to the biological diversity and systematics of Loranthaceae in agrosystems, suggest that surveys should be extended in order to improve taxonomic knowledge and strengthen control strategies
Evaluating the Impact of Resource Conservation Practices on Soil Carbon Sequestration in Agriculture
No full textCarbon sequestration is accumulating atmospheric carbon dioxide, deplete to the soil degradation, augmenting soil fertility, enhancing organic carbon and carbon stocks. Various resource conservation practices involving incorporation of organic manures, cover cropping, zero tillage, mulching, conservation tillage, fertility management, agroforestry, and crop rotation are the enhancing in carbon stocks on agricultural lands. Sequestration of carbon in soil is the importance of that potential is more significant. appropriation of zero tillage bulk density may be enlarge than conventional tillage. The soil aggregates disturbance in the surface layers and decline in the amount of total SOC, mainly due to the macroaggregates, occurs under conventionally tilled soil. The SOC response to cover cropping or diverse crop rotation was more observable in medium-textured soils than soils types. mixed cropping systems with conservation tillage sequestered 10% more SOC than conventional tilled crop-fallow systems, rises than SOC sequestration with diverse cropping or conservation tillage. Diversified crop rotation dispenses an opportunity to produce very large biomass C that impact SOC by changing the quantity and the quality of organic matter input more than under mono cropping
Effect of Different Bio-Fertilizer on Plant and Soil in Different Stages of Rice in Vertisol of Chhattisgarh Plain, India
No full textBackground: The extensive use of chemical fertilizers and agrochemicals has led to soil degradation, reduced microbial diversity, increased vulnerability to pests and diseases, and adverse environmental consequences. The excessive dependence on chemical inputs in rice cultivation has resulted in declining soil fertility and environmental concerns, necessitating a shift toward sustainable alternatives.
Aim: This research seeks to provide insights into sustainable agricultural practices that can mitigate the adverse effects of chemical fertilizers while ensuring food security and environmental sustainability.
Methods: A field experiment was conducted at the Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Instructional Cum Research Farm, College of Agriculture, IGKV, Raipur (C.G.), India during the Kharif season of 2023-24. The study aimed to evaluate the impact of bio-fertilizers on rice growth, yield, and soil properties under different nutrient management treatments. The experiment comprised seven treatments, including control (T1), 100% RDF (T2), 75% RDF (T3), and combinations of 75% RDF with bio-fertilizers such as Azospirillum (T4), phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) (T5), potassium-solubilizing bacteria (KSB) (T6), and an integrated approach combining PSB, KSB, and Azospirillum (T7).
Results: The study indicated that bio-fertilizer treatments significantly influenced plant height, tiller number, panicle count, biomass accumulation, and grain yield. At 30, 60, and 90 days after transplanting (DAT), T7 consistently recorded the tallest plants (86.92 cm at 90 DAT), followed by T2 (87.31 cm), highlighting the role of Azospirillum and KSB in enhancing plant growth. Similarly, T7 exhibited the highest tiller count (5.33 at 90 DAT) and maximum panicle number (5.13 at 90 DAT), underscoring the beneficial effects of bio-fertilizers in promoting tillering and panicle formation. Grain yield was highest in T2 (40.60 Q/ha), followed closely by T7 (40.51 Q/ha), while the control (T1) had the lowest yield (23.40 Q/ha), demonstrating the importance of nutrient supplementation in rice productivity. The straw yield was significantly higher in T7 (52.82 Q/ha), further validating the effectiveness of integrating bio-fertilizers with reduced chemical fertilizers. Test weight was also improved, with T7 (27.43 g) and T4 (27.03 g) recording the highest values, emphasizing enhanced seed quality.
Discussion: Soil analysis at different growth stages indicated no significant changes in pH and organic matter content but revealed notable improvements in soil nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels at harvest, particularly in bio-fertilizer-treated plots. The microbial inoculation of bio-fertilizers enhanced rhizosphere activity, thereby improving soil-plant interactions, nutrient uptake, and overall crop performance.
Conclusion: The study concludes that the application of bio-fertilizers in combination with 75% RDF (T7) significantly improves rice growth, yield, and soil health, offering a sustainable alternative to full chemical fertilization
On-Farm Demonstration of ADT 58 Rice Variety in Villupuram District
No full textPopularization of newly released variety in a new environment through field demonstrations is important role after variety release to increase the productivity and sustainability of particular location. Keeping In this view, the field demonstrations were carried out at farmer’s field by introducing new rice variety ADT 58. The ADT 58, drought tolerant rice variety was released by Tamil Nadu Rice Research Institute, (TNAU), Aduthurai, during 2023. A total of twenty field demonstrations were conducted by using new rice variety (ADT 58) at farmer’s field organized by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Villupuram, Tamil Nadu during 2024. The farmers cultivating variety ADT 39was used as the check variety (farmer’s practice). An average yield of 6,385 kg.ha-1 was recorded in ADT 58 demonstrations which was 10.84% increase over the farmers cultivating variety ADT 39 (5761kg.ha-1). The farmers had gained additional revenue of Rs. 11,948 ha-1 from ADT 58 demonstrations. In this regard, one training programme on production technologies for rice crop was organized by KVK, Villupuram, (Tamil Nadu) for the beneficiary’s farmers to improve the productivity in Villupuram District through new varietal demonstrations
Interrelationship of Quantitative Traits through Correlation and Path Analysis in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)
No full textThe 34 chickpea genotypes were investigated at the Field Experimentation Centre of the Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Allahabad, U.P., during Rabi 2017-2018. The present experiment was conducted in a Randomized Block Design with three replications. Observations were recorded on five randomly selected plants for nine quantitative traits from each replication. The mean sum of squares due to genotypes showed significant differences for all traits. The genotype CSJ-1085 (15.91 g) exhibited maximum seed yield per plant, whereas the lowest value (5.70 g) was recorded in genotype CSJ-1101. Seed yield per plant showed a significant positive association with plant height (cm), number of pods per plant, seed index (g), biological yield per plant (g) and harvest index (%) at both genotypic and phenotypic levels, and with number of seeds per pod at the genotypic level only. Path analysis revealed that plant height (cm) and number of pods per plant had the strongest positive direct effects on seed yield (g), followed by biological yield (g), seed index (g) and harvest index (%), making them important selection criteria in chickpea breeding programs
Enhancing Dioscorea persimilis Yield in Thai Nguyen through Improved Cultivation Technology
No full textA major challenge in cultivating the plant is its growth habit, as the tubers develop deeply in the soil and extend along the stems, making them difficult to harvest and susceptible to breakage during excavation. The experiment was performed to measure the effect of cultivation technology on growth and yield of Hoai Son medicinal plant Dioscorea persimilis at Định Hóa district, Thai Nguyen province from 2024 to 2025. The experiment was designed in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications by five treatments (T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5). The germination rate, plant height, stem diameter, leaf size, and tuber yield, were recorded. Results showed that the burlap bag method T4 treatment provided the highest germination rate (98.0%), greatest plant height (204.5 cm), stem diameter, leaf size, and tuber weight (0.68 kg), significantly outperforming the control at the 95% confidence level. These findings suggest that cultivation using burlap bags enhances growth and harvest efficiency of D. persimilis, offering a practical approach for improving production in mountainous areas of northern Vietnam
Zinc Gluconate: A Promising Foliar Nutrient for Enhancing Crop Productivity
No full textZinc (Zn) is a crucial micronutrient vital for various physiological and biochemical functions in plants, including enzyme activation, protein synthesis and growth regulation. Zinc deficiency, prevalent in many agricultural regions worldwide, leads to significant reductions in crop yield and quality. This review explores the potential of zinc gluconate as a foliar nutrient to enhance crop productivity. Foliar application, an effective method for addressing micronutrient deficiencies, ensures rapid absorption and utilization by plants, bypassing soil-related issues that limit zinc availability. Zinc gluconate, an organic compound, offers high solubility, stability, and bioavailability, making it a superior alternative to inorganic zinc sources. Studies have demonstrated the efficacy of zinc gluconate in improving yield and quality in various agricultural and horticultural crops, including rice, wheat, maize, cotton and tomato. Additionally, zinc\u27s role in mitigating abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, and extreme temperatures through enhanced antioxidant defense mechanisms and improved water-use efficiency underscores its significance in sustainable agriculture. The review highlights the benefits of integrating zinc gluconate foliar applications into nutrient management strategies, particularly in organic farming systems where synthetic chelates are restricted. The compatibility of zinc gluconate with other agrochemicals and its low phytotoxicity further enhances its appeal. This review underscores the need for further research to optimize application rates and methods, ensuring maximum benefits across diverse agro-ecological conditions. The adoption of zinc gluconate as a foliar nutrient presents a promising approach to improving crop health and productivity, contributing to global food security and sustainable agricultural practices