Asian Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition
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Stability and Sustainability Indices for Water Conservation in Fruit Crop Cultivation: Strategies for Mitigation and Resource Optimization
No full textWater scarcity has become a worldwide challenge that affects agricultural productivity and food security. Fruit crop production is among the most water-dependent crops, necessitating high amounts of water inputs. Increasing climatic variability dictates the need for effective water conservation to ensure sustainability in fruit production. Stability indices measure the capacity of farming systems to adapt to changes in water availability, whereas sustainability indices evaluate long-term resource use based on environmental, social, and economic factors. Many strategies are available to conserve water, such as precision irrigation, agroecological practices, and soil moisture management, which help improve water-use efficiency. Drip irrigation, mulching, and agroforestry improve the retention of water in the soil while rainwater harvesting and the use of drought-resistant crop varieties augment the effort of conserving water. Community engagement and policy-driven approaches further complement adequate resource allocation and climate resilience. An integration of stability and sustainability indices with innovative farming techniques facilitates the optimization of water usage in the production of fruit crops through this review. This would ensure long-term water security, with environmentally responsible agriculture, by adopting efficient irrigation systems, conservation practices, and strategic water management policies. Productivity and resource conservation balance are crucial for supporting future food security and sustainable horticultural development. This review explores water management which encompasses a wide range of activities, from increasing productivity and soil health to minimizing climate risks and encouraging community participation, each to guarantee the long-term viability of fruit crop farming
Consequences of Irrigation Water and Soil Quality: An Overview
No full textInjudicious use of irrigation water repeatedly over the time with high water demanding crops on clay dominating soils causes salt affected soils with problems like reduced permeability and poor drainage in arid and semiarid regions and around canal command areas. The soils with rich in clay with impeded drainage unable to each out salts effectively. Further, less use of organic manures, imbalanced fertilization, denial for soil and irrigation water testing, same type of fertilizer use, multi-nutrient deficiencies, less response ration from different soils and crops, no inclusion of green manuring crops consistently reducing soil health. The main cause that irrigation water quality affects soil health is by influencing its salinity levels through the accumulation of dissolved salts. If the water contains too many minerals, especially sodium, it can negatively affect plant growth and soil structure. The quality of irrigation waters differs in various regions, countries and locations based on how the groundwater has been extracted and used, the rainfall intensity and subsequent aquifer recharge. The use of groundwater for agriculture in hot arid and semiarid countries where rainfall is scarce leads to increase groundwater salinity and limits the selection of crops for cultivation. It is therefore important to determine the irrigation water quality. The concentration and composition of soluble salts in water determines its quality for irrigation. Four basic criteria for evaluating water quality for irrigation purposes are water salinity (EC), sodium hazard (sodium adsorption ratio-SAR), residual sodium carbonates (RSC) and specific ion toxicity. Toxicities of boron and chlorides to plants are described. More specifically the relative tolerance levels of plants to boron is tabulated for easy understanding. Further filed level practical management and cultural measures were also scanned from literature in order to control the salinity. In order to sustain soil health it is very essential to adopt irrigation water and soil test based cropping pattern with site specific appropriate strategies
Assessment of Soil Physico-chemical Properties in Tea Gardens of Tinsukia District, Assam, India
No full textTea (Camellia sinensis L.) cultivation is a major agronomic and economic activity in Assam, particularly in the Tinsukia district, which forms part of the Upper Brahmaputra Valley Zone. And the major physico-chemical properties of tea growing soil play an important role in establishing efficient nutrient management practices. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the physical and chemical properties of soils in twelve tea gardens in Tinsukia district of Assam and to explore correlations among these properties. A total of 144 soil samples were collected and analyzed for texture, bulk density (BD), pH, organic carbon (OC), and cation exchange capacity (CEC). The soils were predominantly sandy at the surface, higher clay content with depth, because of possible clay illuviation. Bulk density increased significantly with depth, with a strong negative correlation to organic carbon (r = -0.582**), while surface soils showed lower BD values due to higher organic matter. Soil pH ranged from strongly to moderately acidic, increasing slightly with depth but remaining within the preferred range for tea. Organic carbon was medium in the surface layers (mean: 0.73%) and declined significantly with depth, reflecting organic matter inputs from pruning litter and shade trees. CEC was highest in the surface soil (mean: 11.49 cmol(p⁺) kg⁻¹) and showed significant positive correlations with both OC (r = 0.499**) and clay (r = 0.372*). These findings highlight the need for soil acidity management and organic matter enhancement to sustain long-term tea productivity and soil health in the region
Comparative Economic Analysis of Zero Budget Natural Farming and Nutrient Management Practices of Kharif Maize in Bundelkhand Region of Chitrakoot, India
No full textThe present study investigates comparative economic analysis of zero budget natural farming and nutrient management practices of kharif maize in Bundelkhand region of chitrakoot, India. The experiment was conducted during Kharif 2023 and 2024 using a Randomized Block Design with thirteen treatments, including various combinations of ZBNF practices, organic inputs, and recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) with biofertilizers. The economic performance of each treatment was evaluated based on cost of cultivation, gross and net monetary returns, and the benefit-cost (B:C) ratio. Among all treatments, T8 (100% RDF + Azotobacter + PSB) proved most economically beneficial, achieving the highest net monetary return (Rs. 113,283 ha⁻¹) and B:C ratio (4.08), despite being third in gross returns. T9 (75% RDF + 25% FYM + Azotobacter + PSB) recorded the highest gross return (Rs. 159,651 ha⁻¹) but was second in net returns. Treatments like T6 (Vermicompost) and T7 (Poultry Manure) performed poorly in terms of economic viability. The findings suggest that while ZBNF reduces input costs significantly, integrated nutrient management with biofertilizers offers superior profitability and sustainability in maize cultivation
Effect of Conventional and Organic Agriculture on Cadmium Dynamics in Rice-wheat Cropping System on Inceptisol
No full textCadmium (Cd) is a non-essential toxic metal that threatens soil quality and food safety in intensively managed rice–wheat systems. A two years field study (2020–21 and 2021-22) was conducted to assess the effects of organic and conventional farming practices on the distribution and chemical fractionation of Cd across soil depths and aggregate size classes. Available Cd concentrations in surface soil (0–15 cm) ranged from 0.024 mg kg⁻¹ (conventional treatments) to 0.046 mg kg⁻¹ (organic treatments) after rice, and from 0.0165 mg kg⁻¹ (conventional) to 0.0818 mg kg⁻¹ (organic) after wheat, showing marked enrichment at the surface compared with sub-surface layers (15–30 cm: 0.031–0.040 mg kg⁻¹; 30–60 cm: 0.027–0.032 mg kg⁻¹). Aggregate-associated Cd was distributed among macro- (≈30–33%), micro- (≈32–35%), and silt+clay fractions (≈32–36%), with slightly higher accumulation in finer fractions under organic inputs. Sequential extraction revealed striking differences in chemical speciation: in conventional systems, Fe–Mn oxide–bound Cd dominated (57–68%), whereas in organic systems carbonate-bound Cd increased to 44–52%, and organic matter–bound Cd rose to 17–21%. The exchangeable fraction remained low (<3%) except under high organic inputs (6–7%), while the residual fraction contributed 4–13%. Although total Cd concentrations were below phytotoxic thresholds, the shift from stable oxide-bound forms toward more labile carbonate and organic-bound pools under organic inputs indicates potential for long-term accumulation. The findings demonstrate that while organic management enhances soil aggregation and fertility, it can also alter Cd partitioning, underscoring the need to monitor Cd content in organic amendments to sustain soil health without compromising environmental safety
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Enhance P Uptake and Use Efficiency of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Ferralsols: A Study at Uasin Gishu County, Kenya
No full textDeficiency of macro and micronutrients is a major challenge to sustainable wheat production. Integrating biostimulants such as Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and inorganic fertilisers has been shown to enhance wheat production by optimising their mutual benefits. However, integration of AMF and micronutrients has not been prioritised, especially in low-input systems. Thus, a two-season field study was conducted at the University of Eldoret farm, Uasin Gishu County, Kenya, to evaluate the integrated effect of AMF concoctions with phosphorus (P) and copper (Cu) fertilisers on nutrient uptake, use efficiency, and productivity in wheat. The different levels of P, Cu, and AMF were combined. The treatments were laid out in a Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD) and replicated three times. Two levels of AMF (0 and 60 L ha-1) were applied with three levels of P: 0 kg, 8.8 kg, and 17.6 kg ha-1, and three levels of Cu: 0 kg, 5 kg, and 10 kg ha-1. Generalised linear models (GLM) were used to test the effects of AMF and fertiliser type on soil chemical properties and crop performance indices. Two- and three-way interactions between the three factors were also tested. Results show that AMF did not have significant impact on soil available P, while available Cu increased by 32% - 40% compared to the control. AMF also enhanced P and Cu uptake by 27 - 30% and 24 - 38%, respectively. Furthermore, AMF increased P and Cu use efficiency by about 15 - 31% and 18 - 35% above the plots without AMF, respectively. Co-application of P at 8.8 kg ha-1 and 60 L AMF ha-1 recorded the highest wheat grain yield of 2.84 and 4.72 Mg ha-1 during the 2018 and 2019 long rain seasons, respectively. The study shows that the use of AMF could play a significant role in reducing the amount of inorganic P fertilisers while increasing wheat grain yield. This study recommends co-application of 60 L AMF and 8.8 kg P ha-1 for improving P nutrition and grain yield in wheat
Nutrient Uptake, Concentration and Protein Content of Bread Wheat as Affected by Nitrogen, Sulfur and Phosphorus Interactions
No full textField experiments were conducted in six sites to investigate the concentrations of nitrogen (N), sulfur (S), and phosphorus (P); their uptake; and the grain protein-contents including the grain yield (GY) of bread-wheat in central Ethiopia. The experiments were laid-out in RCBD in triplicate. The mean values of these elements in wheat grain responded significantly to their respective nutrient applications. In total, there were (n=144) entries across locations. Nutrient-concentrations varied spatially ranging between 1.10–2.35% (N); 0.06–0.21% (S); and 0.01–0.16% (P). Similarly, their respective nutrient-uptakes ranged between 7.42–137.55 kg/ha; 0.38–11.87 kg/ha; and 0.08–9.88 kg/ha. But, the protein-concentrations in wheat-flour varied between 6.44–13.71%. At the specific sites, the mean N-concentration in wheat-grain and its uptake were responded significantly to the N supply (***P≤ .001). Meanwhile, the S concentration and uptake were responded to both N and S supplies (**P≤ .01). But the P concentration and its uptake were responded mainly to the interaction-effects N×S×P; N×P; and to a lesser extent to the sole-P application (*P≥ .05). Similarly, the grain protein-concentration was influenced by the interaction-effects N×S×P, N×S, N×P; and by the sole-N and sole-S applications, in a decreasing order of significance. In this analysis, it is noted that the N-concentration and its uptake in the grain were considerably higher than those of S and P. It was furthermore noted that the wheat grain-protein content was strongly correlated with the native-soil N (r= +0.99); S (r= +0.81); and P (r= +0.37), suggesting their degree of significance in protein-synthesis. Under external-supply conditions, the treatment-effects also followed clear gradations in the plant-components formation with the CK≤ S≤ P≤ SP< N< NS< NP≤ NPS. However, the observed changes in the overall plant-variables are likely to be influenced not only by the soil-conditions, but also by plant-factors, environmental-factors and the farming-practices among others, necessitating their further investigations even at the partial-factor level. Especially, the effects of N, S, and P; and even other-nutrients on the true-protein composition and other quality attributes merit further study
Morphological and Quality Assessment of Drought-Tolerant Tea Clones in Bangladesh
No full textMorphological characters and liquor quality of selected 8 tea (Camellia sinensis) clones were compared in the nurseries of Chandpore tea estate and Nalua tea estate, Habiganj district and Tea Germplasm Center of Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet from 2021 to 2024. Single leaf stem cuttings of 8 selected tea clones from 6 tea estates were collected and raised in two nurseries. Growth performance of cuttings was recorded with environmental parameters. The highest survivability rate was observed in C4 (78%), while the highest mortality rate was recorded in C5 (62%). Under 70% field capacity, C21 showed the best results in leaf number (93), where C7 and C11 showed the best results in leaf length (12cm). C11 showed the best results in leaf breadth (5cm). The highest number of branches was recorded in C7 (16). Survivability studies of 8 selected tea clones with 02 check varieties (BT2, BT19) were conducted at controlled conditions (screen-house) as well as at natural field conditions providing normal and supplementary watering with 03 replications. Treatment 1 was conducted with normal watering; 100% field capacity and Treatment 2 with supplementary watering; 70% field capacity. One of our main objectives was to evaluate drought tolerance of the tea clones where root performance played a vital role. Study of root was conducted from the initiation of root. C5 produced the highest root volume (132ml) where C19 had highest length of root (20.7cm). Data-logger was used to record the microclimatic data. In organoleptic taste, C7 was found as the best green tea producing clones among others
Assessment of Genetic Variability in Soybean Germplasm for Yield and Yield Related Traits
No full textAims: The objective of this study was to assess the extent of genetic variability, estimate heritability and determine the potential for genetic advancement in soybean yield and its contributing traits.
Study Design: The study was conducted using an augmented design with three checks repeated across eight blocks.
Place and Duration of Study: In Rabi 2024, the experiment was carried out at the Agricultural and Horticultural Research Station in Kathalagere.
Methodology: A set of nine traits was assessed, including days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height, branch count per plant, pod count per plant, seeds per pod, 100-seed weight, seed yield per plant, and seed yield per hectare. These traits were assessed across 112 soybean germplasm lines along with three checks. Analysis included the estimation of analysis of variance, phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation (PCV and GCV), heritability and genetic advance as a percentage of mean (GAM). Data collection and statistical analyses were performed using R software.
Results: The ANOVA results indicated significant variability among the germplasm lines for every trait examined. Characteristics like branches per plant, pods per plant, seed yield per plant, and seed yield per hectare showed high genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation, as well as high heritability paired with substantial genetic advance expressed as a percentage of the mean. GCV and PCV values ranged from 6.92% to 31.44% and 8.28% to 33.12% respectively. Heritability estimates ranged from 47.42% to 95.77%, with genetic advance as percentage of mean ranging from 11.95% to 54.96%.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that breeding efforts aimed at enhancing yield should place greater emphasis on traits such as the number of branches, pods per plant, seed yield per plant, and seed yield per hectare
Intensification of Aonla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) Production through Integrated Nutrient Management
No full textThe present experiment entitled “Intensification of aonla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) Production through integrated nutrient management was conducted at School of Agriculture Science, Vikrant University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh during rabi 2023-24 to rabi 2024-25. The experiment was laid out in randomised block design in three replication with following 9 treatments, viz., T1= Control (No nutrients), T2= 25 kg FYM + 100% RDF, T3 = 25 kg FYM + 100% RDF + Biofertilizers, T4= 10 kg Vermicompost + 100% RDF + Biofertilizers, T5= 12.5 kg FYM + 5 kg Vermicompost + 100% RDF + Biofertilizers, T6= 25 kg FYM + 10 kg Vermicompost + 75% RDF + Biofertilizers, T7= 25 kg FYM + 10 kg Vermicompost + 50% RDF + Biofertilizers T8= 25 kg FYM + 10 kg Vermicompost + 100% RDF + Biofertilizers, T9 = 25 kg FYM + 10 kg Vermicompost + 100% RDF (No Biofertilizers). The result of the study revealed that maximum plant height (350.40cm), Canopy Spread (3.65m), Shoot Length (30.3cm), Fruits per tree (325), Average fruit weight (50.5g), Total Yield per Tree (14.3kg) and Ascorbic Acid (617.6 mg/100g), available N(306.4 kg/ha), available P (28.01 kg/ha), available K (276.3 kg/ha), microbial activity (27.8 X105) and ascorbic acid (716.6 mg/100g)was recorded in T6. While lowest soil pH and titrable acidity which is desirable was also recorded in treatment T6.