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This article discusses the importance of assessing soil fertility to improve fertilizer use efficiency and maintain crop productivity. The study focuses on the soil fertility status of the Regional Research Station in Gurdaspur, Punjab. Soil samples were collected and analyzed for various parameters, and the results showed that the soil pH was slightly acidic to neutral, and the soil texture ranged from sandy loam to silty clay loam. The study also found varying levels of soil organic carbon, available phosphorus, and available potassium in the soil samples. The authors recommend soil test-based fertilizer application to maintain soil fertility and optimize crop yields. [Extracted from the article]

Potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg) are essential plant macronutrients responsible for mitigation of biotic and abiotic stresses as well as enhancement in yield of maize. In rainfed maize, low productivity due to imbalanced use of fertilizers, erratic rainfall and periodic dry spells are major constraints. Hence, a field experiment was conducted in rainy season during 2015, 2016 and 2017 on an Inceptisol to optimize the levels of K and Mg in rainfed maize. The experiment consisted of four levels of K; control, K @20 kg ha−1, K@30 kg ha−1 and K 40 kg ha−1 and four levels of Mg; control, Mg@15 kg ha−1, Mg@30 kg ha−1, and Mg@45 kg ha−1. Application of K and Mg improved leaf area Index, chlorophyll content and relative water content in maize. Yield attributes of maize also improved significantly with application of K and Mg over control. Highest grain yield (3205 and 3169 kg ha−1) was recorded with the application of 40 kg K ha−1and 45 kg Mg ha−1, respectively which was at par with 30 kg K ha−1 (3103 kg ha−1) and 30 kg Mg ha−1 (3106 kg ha−1), respectively. The highest net returns (US $347 ha−1) and BC ratio (1.72) was recorded with 40 kg K ha−1 while application of 30 kg Mg ha−1 recorded highest net returns (US $332 ha−1) and BC ratio (1.71). Application of 30 kg K ha−1 and 30 kg Mg ha−1 was found to be optimum to improve growth, yield and nutrient uptake in rainfed maize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Indo-gangetic plains, the continuous cultivation of rice-wheat cropping system in light-textured soils has aggravated a manganese (Mn) deficiency. Wheat is sensitive to Mn availability in soil and its deficiency has become one of the major constraints in sustaining its productivity on soils cropped with rice. Thus, field experiments were conducted to evaluate the response of tank-mixed formulations of manganese sulfate (MnSO4·7H2O) and urea (CO(NH2)2) at critical growth stages. The experiment comprised of six different treatments of MnSO4·7H2O (0.5%) and tank-mixed formulation of MnSO4·7H2O (0.5%) and CO(NH2)2 (1%) sprayed 35, 50 and 70 days after sowing (DAS). The results revealed that for biofortification, tank mixed formulation of MnSO4·7H2O (0.5%) with and without CO (NH2)2 (1.0%) at different growth stages resulted in significantly higher yield and Mn accumulation over control. The protein content, micronutrient concentrations (Zn, Fe and Mn) and accumulation in wheat were highest in the treatment having tank-mixed formulation of MnSO4·7H2O and CO(NH2)2 at 35, 50 and 75 DAS stages. However, it was statistically at par with tank-mixed formulation of MnSO4·7H2O (0.5%) and CO(NH2)2 (1.0%) sprayed at 35 and 50 DAS. The net return and B:C ratio were maximum (Rs 75,671 ha−1 and 2.97) in the treatment having tank-mixed formulation of MnSO4·7H2O plus CO(NH2)2 applied at 35 and 50 DAS. The results of the study concluded that the tank-mixed formulation is the appropriate combination for higher accumulation of Mn in wheat grains through biofortification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted to assess the long-term effects of predominant land uses on physicochemical properties, nutrient status and their interactions in soils of south-western Punjab representing the semi-arid soils of India. From each site, soil samples of three predominant land use viz. croplands, horticultural lands and uncultivated lands were collected from 0–15, 15–30, 30–60 and 60–90 cm depths. Soils of both croplands and horticultural lands were classified as sandy loam whereas uncultivated lands showed loamy sand texture with relatively higher pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and bulk density (Bd). Greater soil organic carbon (SOC), available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and micronutrients (Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn) in horticulture might be due to the higher addition of OC and mineral nutrients through the decomposition of leaf litterfall and root deposits over their removal from soils while long-term use of potassic fertilizer raised the available K contents in croplands. Profile study up to 90 cm depicted the largest sequestration of 74.89 Mg C ha−1 under orchards which was 40 and 70% higher than croplands and uncultivated lands respectively. Significant variability in water-stable aggregates (WSA) (R2 = 0.5843, p < 0.05) and mean weighted diameter (MWD) (R2 = 0.6497, p < 0.01) with SOC indicated better soil stability in horticulture due to the presence of higher SOC. Positive relations of soil available micronutrients with SOC and finer soil particles were supported by the results of correlation, Principal component analysis and dendrogram indicating horticulture as a potent source of available micronutrients. An overall superiority of horticultural land use over the other two land uses in terms of nutrient status and soil stability suggests its inclusion as a positive strategy that could be taken into account in policymaking for maintaining productivity along with the sustainability of the concerned land degradation prone area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil microbial and enzymatic activities are sensitive to environmental change. To assess variations in soil properties, six prominent rainfed land-use systems were undertaken in Shiwalik foothills of Punjab, India. In soil samples (0–0.15 m), pH, EC, SOC, available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, DTPA-Zn, DTPA-Fe, DTPA-Mn and DTPA-Cu varied from 7.3–7.9, 0.31–0.61 ds m−1, 0.20–0.63%, 110–381 kg ha−1, 29.8–32.6 kg ha−1, 99–196 kg ha−1, 9.5–15.1 mg kg−1, 9.0–25.2 mg kg−1, 0.31–1.02 mg kg−1 and 0.71–0.96 mg kg−1, respectively. In soil biochemical properties, dehydrogenase activity varied from 5.4–10.9 µg TPF g−1 h−1, acid and alkaline phosphatase from 17.0–36.5 µg pNP g−1 h−1 and 36.3–61.3 µg pNP g−1 h−1, urease from 4.05 to 4.80 µg NH4-N g−1 soil min−1, basal soil respiration from 0.13–0.27 µg CO2 g−1 soil h−1, MBC from 34.9 to 184.5 µg g−1 soil, total and easily extractable glomalin from 4.19 to 8.80 g kg−1 and 1.70 to 8.32 g kg−1, respectively. PCA identified SOC, EC, total extractable glomalin, DTPA-Zn and available potassium as most sensitive and reliable indicators for soil quality. Agri-horticulture and forestry system are considered as sustainable ecosystem in Shiwalik foothills of Punjab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, an attempt was made to assess the effect of integrated nutrient management in rainfed maize-wheat cropping system on productivity, nutrient uptake and soil properties. Field experiments were conducted for three years during 2014 to 2017 in a sandy loam soil at Regional Research Station, Punjab Agricultural University, Ballowal Saunkhri with nine treatments. Among different treatments, the treatment comprising 100% NPK through DAP + FYM @10 t ha-1 gave highest average grain yield (29.5 q ha-1 in maize and 26.1 q ha-1 in wheat), nitrogen uptake (31.3 kg ha-1 in maize grain and 24.8 kg ha-1 in wheat grain), phosphorus uptake (10.5 kg ha-1 in maize grain and 9.9 kg ha-1 in wheat grain) and potassium uptake (26.7 q ha-1 in maize grain and 22.3 q ha-1 in wheat grain), respectively. However, the net return (Rs 30,683 ha-1 year-1) and B:C ratio (1.55) was highest in the treatment 125%NPK followed by 100% NPK + ZnSO4 treatment (net return-Rs 29,966 ha-1 year1 and B:C ratio-1.55). In soil properties, the values of organic carbon (5.5 g kg-1), available phosphorus (37.2 kg ha-1), available potassium (205 kg ha-1) and microbial counts were highest in the treatment comprising of 100% NPK + FYM @10 t ha-1. Considering the positive effects on crop productivity and soil health, it can be concluded that integrated use of recommended 100%NPK through DAP with farmyard manure (10 t ha-1) is better nutrient management option under rainfed conditions of sub-montane Punjab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The changes in land use systems result in remarkable variations in SOC and its dynamics which subsequently govern soil biochemical processes, microbial and metabolic indices in soil. The detail understanding about the responses of different C pools to land uses is essential for maintaining the soil quality. The present study was undertaken in six rainfed land use systems of north eastern Punjab, India comprising of agriculture, horticulture, agri-horticulture, forestry, agroforestry and barren lands. The soil samples (0–15 cm) were collected and analyzed for soil carbon fractions and biochemical activities. The oxidisable carbon fractions i.e. very labile carbon, labile carbon, less labile carbon, recalcitrant carbon and total organic carbon contents in soil varied significantly from 0.09%–0.22%, 0.09%–0.23%, 0.02%–0.15%, 0.15%–0.72% and 0.83%–4.68%, respectively. The soil dehydrogenase activity, soil microbial biomass carbon, metabolic and microbial quotients showed significant variations and ranged from 5.4 –10.9 µg TPF g−1 soil h−1, 34.9 –184.5 µg g−1soil, 0.0011–0.0034, 45.0–195.5, respectively. Agri-horticulture and forestry system were observed to be best environment friendly and sustainable system in rainfed regions. Carbon management index (28.9%), metabolic potential (9.8%) and total organic carbon (5.4%) were three topmost soil quality indicators for soil health in rainfed land use systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trichoderma species due to their fungal plant pathogen suppression and ecofriendly nature are Trichoderma species due to their fungal plant pathogen suppression and ecofriendly nature are deployed in agriculture as biocontrol agents for the management of plant diseases in agricultural crops since a long-time. The potential biocontrol species/strains of Trichoderma from native geographic locations are often used for the effective management of various abiotic and biotic stresses in plants. Furthermore, bioformulation of biocontrol strains are often prepared using different carriers and evaluated for their effectiveness. Therefore, the isolates of Trichoderma were evaluated against plant fungal pathogens such as Fusarium oxysporum, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Alternaria solani and Phytophthora sp. suppression. The pot experiments carried in tomato plants inoculated with a combination of pathogens and one of the most effective Trichoderma asperellum isolate UCRD5 revealed that beside disease suppression, the biocontrol strain led to the significantly early induction of flowering in plants, compared to control. Further, characterization of talc powdered and calcium alginate based bioformulation of Trichoderma asperellum isolate revealed better shelf-life for calcium alginate based bead bioformulation. Keeping in view the difference in the biocontrol potential of Trichoderma isolates from different geographic locations, the present study explores the native isolates of Trichoderma from the agricultural fields of Punjab region, for the effective management of various abiotic and biotic stresses in agricultural crops. Further, efforts were made to enhance the shelf-life and biocontrol efficacies using sodium alginate based beads. The ability of the indigenous Trichoderma isolated to suppress plant fungal pathogens and induce flowering in tomato, coupled to encapsulated formulations with better shelf-life indicates its potential in enhancing the agricultural productivity. • Trichoderma isolates from agricultural fields of Punjab were characterized. • Trichoderma isolates were evaluated for their plant fungal pathogen suppression ability. • The experimental studies also revealed the flower inducing ability of the isolate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve the nutritional target of human food, boron (B) has been described as an essential mineral in determining seed and theoretical oil yield of Sesamum indicum L. The research to increase its cultivation is garnering attention due to its high oil content, quality and its utilization for various purposes, which include human nutrition as well as its use in the food industry. For this, a two-year field experiment was performed at PAU, Punjab, India to determine the effect of different concentrations of foliar-applied B (20, 30 and 40 mg L−1) and different growth stages of crop, i.e., we measured the effects on agroeconomic indicators and certain quality parameters of sesame using different concentrations of B applied at the flowering and capsule formation stages as compared to using water spray and untreated plants. Water spray did not significantly affect the studied parameters. However, B application significantly increased the yield, uptake, antioxidant activity (AOA) and theoretical oil content (TOC) compared to those of untreated plants. The maximum increase in seed yield (26.75%), B seed and stover uptake (64.08% and 69.25%, respectively) as well as highest AOA (69.41%) and benefit to cost ratio (B:C ratio 2.63) was recorded when B was applied at 30 mg L−1 at the flowering and capsule formation stages. However, the maximum sesame yield and B uptake were recorded when B was applied at a rate of 30 mg L−1. A significant increase in TOC was also recorded with a B application rate of 30 mg L−1. For efficiency indices, the higher values of boron agronomic efficiency (BAE) and boron crop recovery efficiency (BCRE) were recorded when B was applied at 20 mg L−1 (5.25 and 30.56, respectively) and 30 mg L−1 (4.96 and 26.11, respectively) at the flowering and capsule formation stages. In conclusion, application of B @ 30 mg L−1 at the flowering and capsule formation stages seemed a viable technique to enhance yield, B uptake and economic returns of sesame. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]