Asian Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition
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Nanotechnology Facilitated Real Time Soil Monitoring for Optimized Crop Production
No full textNanotechnology has emerged as a powerful tool for advancing precision agriculture through real-time soil monitoring. By leveraging nanoscale sensors, nanoparticles, and nanomaterials, it is now possible to continuously track key soil parameters such as moisture, nutrient levels, pH, and microbial activity at an unprecedented level of spatial and temporal resolution. This real-time data enables farmers to make informed decisions regarding irrigation, fertilization, pest control, and other management practices, ultimately optimizing crop yield and quality while minimizing environmental impact and resource use. Nanomaterials like carbon nanotubes and graphene offer unique properties such as high sensitivity, fast response time, and low power consumption, making them ideal for developing wireless sensor networks that can be deployed in the field for extended periods. Nano-functionalized hydrogels and nanoclays show promise as slow-release fertilizer carriers and water retention agents. Novel nano-biosensors can detect plant pathogens, pollutants, and other stressors at extremely low concentrations, allowing for early intervention. Data collected by nanosensors can be transmitted to cloud-based platforms for advanced analytics and integration with other precision ag technologies like variable rate application, robotics, and digital twins. However, challenges remain in terms of large-scale manufacturing, standardization, cost reduction, and addressing potential ecological and health risks of nanomaterials. Ongoing research aims to develop biodegradable and biocompatible nanostructures, improve stability and durability under harsh field conditions, and establish safety and regulatory guidelines. Multidisciplinary collaboration between nanoscientists, agronomists, engineers, and data scientists will be key to realizing the full potential of nanotechnology for sustaining global food security in the face of climate change and population growth. With responsible development and application, nanotechnology-enabled real-time soil monitoring can revolutionize how we understand and manage one of our most critical natural resources
Assessment of Water Quality in Saline Tract of Purna Valley in the Vidarbha Region
No full textIdentification and management of groundwater quality are of utmost importance for maintaining freshwater resources in arid and semi-arid areas, which is essential for sustainable development. The investigation was carried out to assess the quality of irrigation water in THE saline tract of Purna Valley in Akola and Daryapur tehsil. Forty water samples from open wells, Borewell, Farm Ponds and Rivers were collected in post- monsoon season (winter). It was observed that the irrigation water in Purna Valley has very high salinity and medium sodium hazard (C4S2) during post- monsoon (winter) season. Amongst cations sodium was dominant in water samples. The anionic composition was below the permissible limit, except for bicarbonates. The sodium adsorption ratio was close to the permissible limit and the Mg:Ca ratio of all water samples during post -monsoon (winter) season was found to be disturbed. The adjusted sodium adsorption ratio was above the permissible limit. As per Kelley’s ratio most of the water samples were above the limit, while the samples collected from wells, farm ponds and rivers were within the permissible limit. The residual sodium bicarbonate of water collected from the borewell was above the permissible limit. Whereas, the soluble sodium percentage of all irrigation water samples was found above the permissible limit. The magnesium adsorption of water ratio is lower than the permissible range. Hence, the borewell water was not advisable to use consistently for irrigation
Exploring Genetic Variability for Yield and Its Attributing Traits in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) under Low Soil Phosphorous Condition
No full textPhosphorus (P) is a vital macro-nutrient essential for the growth and development of all crop plants including rice. Inadequate availability of P in the soils hinders crop growth, resulting in reduced rice yields. Genetic variability for low P tolerance is of utmost importance to understand the genetics and improvement of rice genotypes for the trait. The present study was conducted under low soil P condition to assess the genetic variability for yield and its attributing traits in rice genotypes. The experimental material consists of 245 rice genotypes along with six checks which were planted in low P plot at ICAR-IIRR, Hyderabad using augmented block design and phenotyped for the traits viz., days to 50% flowering, plant height, total number of tillers, number of productive tillers per plant, panicle length, single plant yield, thousand grain weight and spikelet fertility. ANOVA analysis revealed that MSS due to test genotypes were significant (p<0.01) for all the traits under study. PCV and GCV were found to be high for single plant yield, total number of tillers and number of productive tillers while, plant height, thousand grain weight and spikelet fertility showed moderate PCV and GCV. Genetic advance as percentage of mean coupled with heritability was observed to be higher for all the traits except panicle length, which was moderate in nature. These results signify that there was sufficient amount of genetic variability for all the studied traits under low P in the studied genotypes. Therefore, genetic improvement through selection for these traits would be more rewarding and could be useful for developing genotypes tolerant to low P stress
Assessing Environmental Sensitivity Areas (ESA) Using Medalus Model in Telkaif District of Northern Iraq
No full textThis study conducted in Tel Kaif district in the northern part of Nineveh Governorate, located between longitudes (˝42′33°41– ˝20′19°43) east and latitudes (˝20′23°36-˝14′54°36) north to assess its environmental sensitivity to desertification (ESA). Fifteen representative sites selected based on the agricultural uses, vegetation cover, and topography. The geographical coordinates of the study sites were determined using a GPS device, and climatic and descriptive data for the study area taken, and soil samples taken for the required laboratory analyses. The obtained data converted into weighted evidence from special tables, so that four indices were calculated, namely the Soil Quality Index (SQI), Vegetation cover Quality Index (VQI), Climate Quality Index (CQI) and Management Quality Index (MQI) required according to the requirements of achieving the Mediterranean Desertification and Land Use (MEDALUS) model. Finally, the Environmentally Sensitive Areas Index (ESAI) equation applied to classify the study area and evaluate its environmental sensitivity to desertification, and then the Kriging technique was used within GIS programs to employ the results of the study by classifying the lands and representing them cartographically. The results showed that most of the study sites have a high environmental sensitivity to desertification (ESA) of the Critical type and below the C3 type, site 15 was Critical - C2, while sites (7 and 9) were Fragile - F2, and Site 6 was Fragile - F3. Therefore, the study area is located within the areas threatened by desertification, according to the assessment of the Environmental Sensitivity to Desertification Index, which is based on the MEDALUS model
Effect of Foliar Nutrition on Growth, Yield and Yield Attributes of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under Medium Black Calcareous Soil
No full textA study was conducted to laid out under medium black calcareous soil during rabi 2019-20 at the Instructional Farm, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh. The experiment followed a randomized block design (RBD) with three replications, comprising with 10 treatments. The results of the field study indicated that growth, yield and yield attributes of chickpea was significantly influenced by foliar nutrition. The growth, yield and yield attributes parameters viz., plant height (44.50 cm), no. of branches per plant (9.31), no. of nodules per plant (9.88), no. of pods per plant (42.65) and test weight (16.30 g), seed (2395 kg ha-1) and stover yield (3675 kg ha-1) were recorded significantly higher under 100% RDF + 1.0 % (Mono Ammonium Phosphate) at 30 and 45 DAS, at harvest, but plant population and number of seeds per pod did not affect significantly with foliar application of WSF at harvest. At 50 DAS plant height (34.78 cm) and number of branches per plant (6.35) are also significantly highest
Assessment of Soil Physico-chemical Properties in Sugarcane Cultivation Areas of Navsari District, Gujarat, India
No full textSentinel 2 satellite data from the year 2021 were acquired from the Copernicus site to identify the sugarcane producing area in the Navsari district. Hybrid classification approach i.e., supervised and unsupervised with ground truth data were applied using ERDAS IMAGINE software. After image classification, 2.5 km x 2.5 km grid was prepared in Q-GIS software which along with classified sugarcane area were overlapped for site identification. Then, random soil surface and sub-surface samples were collected with reference from grid of intensive sugarcane growing area. The particle density (2.10 to 2.76 g cm-3 with the mean value of 2.58 g cm-3) and bulk density (1.10 to 1.68 g cm-3 with the mean value of 1.33 g cm-3) of surface soil were found to be lower than sub-surface soil (2.18 to 2.79 g cm-3 and 1.15 to 1.68 g cm-3 with the mean value of 2.62 g cm-3 and 1.42 g cm-3 respectively) while porosity (31.60 to 59.26% with the mean value of 48.39%) and maximum water holding capacity (22.77 to 51.92% with the mean value of 39.60%) of surface soil were found to be higher than sub-surface soil (29.54 to 57.71% and 20.98 to 48.91% with the mean value of 45.60% and 36.81% respectively). The pH of soil surface showed range from 6.08 to 8.37 while pH of soil sub-surface noted range of 6.00 to 8.50. The electrical conductivity of surface and sub-surface soil showed the range of 0.011 to 1.580 dS m-1 and 0.010 to 1.586 dS m-1. The soil organic carbon of surface soil ranged from 0.06 to 0.89% while that of sub-surface soil varied from 0.02 to 0.85%
Performance of Gobhi Sarson (Brassica napus L.) under Integrated Nutrient Management
No full textA field experiment was conducted during rabi season (2023-24) at Agricultural Research Farm, School of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, RIMT University Mandi Gobindgarh, to study the effect of integrated nutrient management (INM) in Gobhi Sarson (Brassica napus L.). The experimental field was laid out in randomized complete block design with 10 treatments and replicated thrice. The experiment comprised of 10 treatments i.e. T1 -Control, T2 -100% Recommended Dose of Fertilizers (RDF) (40:20::N:P2O5 kg ha-1), T3 -125% RDF, T4 -150% RDF, T5 -50% RDF + 15 t Farm Yard Manure (FYM) ha-1, T6 -50% RDF + 20 t FYM ha-1, T7 -75% RDF + 15 t FYM ha-1, T8 -75% RDF + 20 t FYM ha-1, T9 -100% RDF + 15 t FYM ha-1 and T10 -100% RDF + 20 t FYM ha-1. The result revealed that growth parameters were significantly higher in treatment T10 -100% RDF + 20 t FYM ha-1 plant population (21.79 m-2), plant height (157.9 cm), number of branches plant-1 (17.15), chlorophyll content (55.74) and yield and yield attributes were also significantly higher in treatment T10 -100% RDF + 20 t FYM number of siliquae plant-1 (291.0), siliqua length (8.423 cm), number of seeds siliqua-1 (23.01), 1000 seed weight (3.45 g), seed yield (23.45 q ha-1), straw yield (59.04 q ha-1) and harvest index (28.80 %) were observed. From this study it may be concluded that the combination of RDF and FYM enhanced the overall growth, yield and yield attributes of Gobhi Sarson
Enzymatic Biosensors: Advanced Tools for Soil and Plant Health Monitoring
No full textSoil health is the potential of the soil to support the productivity of organisms, preserve the environment, and improve the health of plants and animals. Healthy soil is vital for agricultural sustainability and environmental resilience. The presence of high concentrations of toxic chemicals (pollutants and contaminants) in the soil poses a significant risk to human health and the ecosystem. Plant health is influenced by various factors, including the surrounding environment. To minimize constraints such as low nutrient levels, ecosystem contamination/pollution, and pest and disease incidences in crops, and to maximize productivity and ensure agricultural sustainability, advanced detection and management strategies are urgently needed. Diagnosis, prediction, and monitoring are essential for managing agricultural practices to mitigate these harmful impacts. The development of improved biosensing devices has been driven by the demand for quick, accurate, sensitive, real-time, and fast instruments for screening and identifying contaminants. Specific enzymes are used as the biological sensing element in an enzyme-based biosensor, which is combined with a transducer to transform the signal from the enzymatic reaction into a quantifiable response proportionate to the analyte concentration. Enzymatic biosensors need to possess high specificity, selectivity, reproducibility, stability, a low limit of detection, a low limit of quantification, and a rapid response time. They have a diverse array of uses, such as soil quality monitoring, water monitoring, food quality monitoring, pathogen detection, drug discovery, disease identification, and environmental research
Effect of Nitrogen and Boron Fertilization on Nutrient Content and Uptake by Mustard Crop in Chitrakoot Area
No full textThis study assessed the impact of nitrogen (N) and boron (B) fertilization on yield, nutrient composition, and nutrient uptake in Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) in Chitrakoot, Madhya Pradesh, India. A field trial featuring 13 treatments combined reduced nitrogen levels, nano-urea applications, and different boron doses, using a randomized block design with three replications. Treatment T12 [½ recommended nitrogen dose (RDN) + two nano-urea sprays + 1.25 kg B ha⁻¹] achieved the highest seed yield (1523.81 kg ha⁻¹), surpassing the control (100% NPK as per RDF) which yielded 958.73 kg ha⁻¹. T12 also had the highest nutrient concentrations 2.78% nitrogen, 0.482% phosphorus, and 0.74% potassium as well as the highest nutrient uptake, with nitrogen at 42.36 kg ha⁻¹, phosphorus at 7.34 kg ha⁻¹, and potassium at 11.28 kg ha⁻¹. These results indicate that combining nano-urea with boron, especially at elevated boron levels, can significantly improve yield and nutrient absorption in mustard, highlighting its potential for sustainable farming in semi-arid areas
Impact of Foliar Fertilizer Spraying on Productivity and Economics of Greengram (Vigna radiata L.) Grown in Rice Fallow Condition
No full textThe field experiment was conducted at the Tamil Nadu Rice Research Institute, Aduthurai, during the rice fallow season of 2022-23 and 2023-24 to evaluate the impact of foliar fertilizer application on the growth, yield and economic performance of rice fallow greengram. The spray treatment viz., Water spray-control, 2% Urea, 2% DAP, 2% NPK 18:18:18, 0.5% ZnSO₄, 2% Urea + 0.5% ZnSO₄, 2% DAP + 0.5% ZnSO₄ and 2% NPK 18:18:18 + 0.5% ZnSO₄. The study was conducted in a randomized block design (RBD) with three replications. The greengram variety ADT 3 was used for this study. The treatments were imposed as per treatment schedule. Among the treatments, foliar application of DAP 2% + 0.5% ZnSO₄ at the pre-flowering and pod initiation stage resulted in superior growth and yield parameters, including plant height (72.5 cm), the number of pods plant-1 (56.2), the number of seeds pod-1 (13.5), test weight (4.1 g) and higher seed yield of 1175 kg ha-1, which was comparable with the NPK 18:18:18 @ 2% + 0.5% treatment. Consequently, foliar application of DAP 2% + 0.5% ZnSO₄ achieved the highest economic returns, with a gross income of Rs.82,250 ha-1, a net income of Rs.53,284 ha-1 and a benefit-cost ratio of 2.84