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As an agricultural state, Haryana (India) produces about six million metric tons (mt) of rice straw every year from rice cultivation. Currently, rice straw is either burned or ploughed into the field without being turned into a functional product. Burning of paddy straw pollutes the air, results in green house gas emission, particulate matter (2.5 and 10 µm) emission, considerable losses on the properties of the soil, soil nutrients, organic matter, productivity and biodiversity, and on and off-farm humans and animals’ health. The biochemically and functionally specified potential for optimal alternative use of the rice straw of 13 most widely produced rice varieties from Haryana’s eastern and western agro-climate zones was undertaken. Pusa-1401 variety had the highest cellulose (46.55%) and silica content (13.70%), while Pusa-1718 had hemicellulose (28.25%) and lignin (11.60%), respectively. Maximum nitrogen (0.81%), phosphorus (0.32%) and potassium (2.78%) were found in rice variety Pusa-1509, Pusa-1401 and Rice-6129. The findings seemed to be statistically significant (p

Bioconversion of agricultural residual wastes into value added compost for enhancing crop productivity and improving soil health and attaining popularity among the farmers. Therefore, in the present investigation was carried out microorganisms play an important role in the recycling of agricultural wastes for compost production. Cattle dung, biogas slurry and paddy straw had 14.35, 11.85 and 15.94% total solids with organic carbon 45.66, 40.12 and 50.76%, respectively. The C/N ratio was observed 35:1 in cattle dung, 34:1 in biogas slurry and 87:1 in paddy straw. The nitrogen content was 1.04, 1.0 and 0.62%, respectively in cattle dung, biogas slurry and Paddy straw. The C/N ratio dropped from 42.38 to 27.65 and maximum amount of humic acid was observed in T7 treatment after 60 days of composting. Volatile solids ranged from 60 to 67.7% of TS in all treatments after 60 days of composting.

The primary objectives of modern agriculture includes the environmental sustainability, low production costs, improved plants’ resilience to various biotic and abiotic stresses, and high sowing seed value. Delayed and inconsistent field emergence poses a significant threat in the production of agri-crop, especially during drought and adverse weather conditions. To open new routes of nutrients’ acquisition and revolutionizing the adapted solutions, stewardship plans will be needed to address these questions. One approach is the identification of plant based bioactive molecules capable of altering plant metabolism pathways which may enhance plant performance in a brief period of time and in a cost-effective manner. A biostimulant is a plant material, microorganism, or any other organic compound that not only improves the nutritional aspects, vitality, general health but also enhances the seed quality performance. They may be effectively utilized in both horticultural and cereal crops. The biologically active substances in biostimulant biopreparations are protein hydrolysates (PHs), seaweed extracts, fulvic acids, humic acids, nitrogenous compounds, beneficial bacterial, and fungal agents. In this review, the state of the art and future prospects for biostimulant seedlings are reported and discussed. Biostimulants have been gaining interest as they stimulate crop physiology and biochemistry such as the ratio of leaf photosynthetic pigments (carotenoids and chlorophyll), enhanced antioxidant potential, tremendous root growth, improved nutrient use efficiency (NUE), and reduced fertilizers consumption. Thus, all these properties make the biostimulants fit for internal market operations. Furthermore, a special consideration has been given to the application of biostimulants in intensive agricultural systems that minimize the fertilizers’ usage without affecting quality and yield along with the limits imposed by European Union (EU) regulations.

Increasing population pressure and decreasing cultivable land brought the agricultural sector at an alarming situation of food production particularly in the developing countries. To feed the burgeoning population, the agriculture sector needs to become more productive and diversified while facing the adversity of climate change and limitations of natural resources. During 1960–70, the improved irrigation facilities, the use of fertilizers and pesticides in the cultivation of high yielding varieties of cereals successfully led to the Green revolution in India. In the present scenario, the low irrigation and fertilizer use efficiencies, poor pesticide application and delivery are amongst the important issues in developing countries that need to be addressed for getting higher productivity. Also, fertilizer and pesticide usage also had severe associated environmental consequences like eutrophication, resistance and resurgence in pest, toxicity to non-target organisms, residues in food and feed, accumulation in the environment, etc. In such conditions, organic farming, a traditional practice coupled with the exploration of bio-nanoparticles to achieve a sustainable production system seems to be a better option. This review focuses on current research developments in the areas of bio-nano-enabled crop nutrition, protection, post-harvest management, and the possibility of bio-nanomaterials and organic farming confluence to revolutionize the agricultural sector by ensuring sustainable food security for coming generations.

Drought stress is considered to be a major factor responsible for reduced agricultural productivity, because it is often linked to other major abiotic stresses, such as salinity and heat stress. Understanding drought-tolerance mechanisms is important for crop improvement. Moreover, under drought conditions, it is possible that growth regulators are able to protect the plants. Brassinosteroids not only play a regulatory role in plant growth, but also organize defense mechanisms against various tresses. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of brassinolide on physio-biochemical amendment in two contrasting cultivars (drought-tolerant RH 725, and drought-sensitive RH 749) of Brassica juncea under drought stress. Two foliar sprayings with brassinolide (10 and 20 mg/L) were carried out in both cultivars (RH 725 and RH 749) at two stages—i.e., flower initiation, and 50% flowering—under stress conditions. The results clearly revealed that the activities of antioxidative enzymes and non-enzymatic antioxidants (carotenoids, ascorbic acid, and proline) increased significantly in RH 725 at 50% flowering, whereas 20 mg/L of brassinolide showed the most promising response. The different oxidative stress indicators (i.e., hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde, and electrolyte leakage) decreased to a significant extent at 20 mg/L of brassinolide spray in RH 725 at 50% flowering. This study indicates that brassinolide intensifies the physio-biochemical attributes by improving the antioxidant system and photosynthetic efficiency in RH 725 at 50% flowering. It is assumed that enhanced production of proline, improvement of the antioxidant system, and reduction in the amount of stress indicators impart strength to the plants to combat the stress conditions.

Now a days, farmers prefer to use Premix Formulations instead of single pesticide for the control of insects and pests. Large number of premix formulations are available in the market, Solomom OD (...

Chlorantraniliprole, a new systemic insecticide of anthranilic diamide class gaining popularity among farmers for its effective control of Lepidoptera pest particularly in vegetables. Thus monitoring of chlorantraniliprole (CAP) leftover in vegetables is required and to this end eco-friendly, cost effective, selective and accurate method was developed and validated for quantification of its left over in chilli fruit using gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS) in SCAN/MRM mode with a triple Quadrupole analyzer. Two MS–MS transitions were acquired to ensure the reliable quantification and confirmation of the analyte. All calibration curve showed a good linear relationship (r > 0.99) with in test ranges (0.005–0.5 µg ml−1). To study its persistence, half-life, waiting period and decontamination behavior the field trial were performed at recommended dose and its double by Central Insecticide Board and Registration Committee (CIBRC). Initial deposits of CAP at recommended (T1) and double (T2) the recommended doses revealed 3.16 and 4.18 mg kg−1 with their respective half-lives 1.18 and 2.05 days respectively. According to maximum residual limit i.e. 0.03 mg kg−1 by FSSAI, residues persists up to 7th and 15th day if sprayed at fruit setting stage. The extent of removal of CAP using simple decontamination approach showed 62–67% reduction on maximum residue.

Micronutrient deficiency, micronutrient malnutrition or hidden hunger is an increasingly severe global challenge for humankind. As wheat, rice and maize are the major staple food crops and are frequently consumed, it has become necessary to biofortify cereal crops with micronutrients, especially iron and zinc, in order to fulfill the requirements for better human health. Cellular and molecular mechanisms should be understood to maintain the homeostasis of micronutrients for increasing iron and zinc in plants. For metal ions uptake under deficiency conditions, plants have established strongly regulated two different strategies. Reduction-based strategy-I is followed by non-graminaceous monocots and dicots, whereas chelation-based strategy-II is followed by grasses. Strategy-II plants (graminaceous species) facing Zn, Fe and other micronutrient deficiency have mechanism of Fe chelation which depends on methionine derivative synthesis known as mugineic acid family phytosiderophores. Graminaceous plants also show quantitative and qualitative differences in MAs production. Wheat, rice and maize release only 2-deoxymugineic acid (DMA) in a very small fraction, thus due to low Fe availability these are reported as susceptible. Whereas, in low Fe availability, barley is reported more tolerant due to production of large amounts of different types of MAs, including MA, 3-epi-hydroxymugineic acid and 3-hydroxymugineic acid. In graminaceous plants, chelation and uptake of non-Fe metals are also facilitated by MAs, like Zn in the form of Zn (II)-MAs. Therefore, to solve the above problem, there is a requirement for alternative and eco-friendly technology such as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and organic farming practices to enhance zinc solubilization and its availability to plants.

Chitosan is a cationic linear biopolymer that is produced by deacetylation of chitin by chitin deacetylase. This enzyme hydrolyses acetamido groups of N-acetyl glucosamine in chitin. Chitosan has immense potential especially in the field of agriculture, food and pharmaceuticals. In most of the countries, commercial exploitation of chitosan is predominantly done by conversion of chitin to chitosan by treating shellfish waste with alkali. The biological methods for extraction of chitosan were used as alternative for chemical methods. In the present study, 18 morphologically different fungal isolates, 17 bacteria and 3 actinomycete were isolated from soil and water samples. Out of these 38 strains, six isolates of fungi, two bacterial isolates and one actinomycete showed positive results by production of yellow color in the chitin agar media supplemented with p-nitroacetanilide as indicator.

Psychrotrophs have the ability to survive in extreme conditions of lower temperature ranges from 0 °C to 20 °C. Psychrotrophic microorganisms mainly include bacteria, archaea and yeast, but among them, bacteria predominate in polar environment and archaea are more widespread in cold and deep ocean waters. They have evolved a variety of adaptation mechanisms such as gene expression modification and production of cold stress protein to cope up with stress induced at such a lower temperature. Cold active enzymes produced by psychrotrophs have wide applications in the food and pharmaceutical industry. Moreover these have wide applications in agriculture as they have the ability to promote plant growth at low temperature.

Microorganisms are ubiquitous in nature and are the backbones of all ecosystems. The halophilic microbes are extremely diverse that survive in high-saline environments. Most halophile (salt-loving) microbes belong to Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya, which are found in ponds, lake, deep-sea brines, etc. These microorganisms have adapted their surface and membrane structures to their highly ionic environments. They use two fundamentally different strategies in medium for balancing of their cytoplasm osmotically. The first strategy includes the accumulation of molar concentrations of KCl that requires adaptation mechanism of the intracellular enzymatic activity in the presence of salt to maintain proper conformation and activity of the proteins. The second strategy includes where salt is to be excluded from their cytoplasm and synthesized as well as accumulated organic solutes that could not be interfered with enzyme machinery. In recent years, halophiles have been attractive among researchers due to their adaptation mechanism in a wide range of salinities with potentially promising applications and a source of various bioactive compounds. Therefore, the saline and hypersaline environments could be more explored in the field of ecological niches which have been used for the discovery of bioactive compounds/metabolites. However, these halophiles are potential sources for a wide range of new therapeutic compounds. The aim of this introductory chapter is to provide brief perspectives on microbial ecology and highlight the applications in various fields and also understand the function and ecological roles of microbial community in saline environment. It also concludes putting the current status and future prospective with potential applications using advanced approaches derived from genomics and proteomics.

Chlorantraniliprole, a new systemic insecticide of anthranilic diamide class gaining popularity among farmers for its effective control of Lepidoptera pest particularly in vegetables. Thus monitoring of chlorantraniliprole (CAP) leftover in vegetables is required and to this end eco-friendly, cost effective, selective and accurate method was developed and validated for quantification of its left over in chilli fruit using gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS) in SCAN/MRM mode with a triple Quadrupole analyzer. Two MS–MS transitions were acquired to ensure the reliable quantification and confirmation of the analyte. All calibration curve showed a good linear relationship (r > 0.99) with in test ranges (0.005–0.5 µg ml(−1)). To study its persistence, half-life, waiting period and decontamination behavior the field trial were performed at recommended dose and its double by Central Insecticide Board and Registration Committee (CIBRC). Initial deposits of CAP at recommended (T1) and double (T2) the recommended doses revealed 3.16 and 4.18 mg kg(−1) with their respective half-lives 1.18 and 2.05 days respectively. According to maximum residual limit i.e. 0.03 mg kg(−1) by FSSAI, residues persists up to 7th and 15th day if sprayed at fruit setting stage. The extent of removal of CAP using simple decontamination approach showed 62–67% reduction on maximum residue.

The present study was done to assess the dissipation behavior, decontamination, and half-life time of ready-mix formulation of trifloxystrobin (25% w/w) and tebuconazole (50% w/w) in okra and soil under the crop after foliar spray at fruiting stage. Samples of okra and soil were collected periodically, i.e., zero (2 h after spray), 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, and 25 days after third application at a 7-day interval. Residues of these fungicides were determined by gas liquid chromatography (GLC) equipped with electron capture detector (ECD) and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GCMS-triple quadruple). The limits of quantification (LOQ) and detection (LOD) for both the fungicides were 0.01 and 0.003 mg kg-1, respectively. Washing alone with faucet water was found successful in minimizing the residues. Soil was free from residual contamination at fifth day after spraying in case of both the fungicides and at both the doses.

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is an industrially and economically important agricultural commodity. It is used for the production of sugar and/or bioethanol. Ethanol’s use as a biofuel source helps in reducing the environmental degradation caused by greenhouse gases and immoderate use of fossil fuels. In India, sugarcane molasses is used as a feedstock for ethanol production by the fermentation process, which is later used as biofuel by blending it with gasoline in different ratios. India’s biofuel policy acts as a significant contributor toward social and economic development of rural areas and mobilization of resources that create employment opportunities. In 2002, Ethanol Blending Program (EBP) was launched and implemented with a 5% blending target. The target was achieved in 20 states and 4 union territories and was later increased to 20% with a goal to reduce pollution, encourage bio-product engenderment, and enhance socioeconomic status in the rural areas. In this regard, this chapter details the current status and prospects of sugarcane ethanol blending in India.

Salt stress is one of the most brutal abiotic stresses that arrests crop survival and productivity. It affects various physiological, biochemical and metabolic processes in plants, depending on severity and duration of the stress. Plant adaptation or tolerance to salinity stress involves complex physiological traits, metabolic pathways, and molecular or gene networks. In response to high salinity stress, various genes get upregulated, the products of which are involved either directly or indirectly in plant protection. Some of the genes encoding osmolytes, ion channels, receptors, components of calcium signaling and some other regulatory signaling factors or enzymes are able to confer salinity tolerance, when transferred to sensitive plants. Overall, the susceptibility or tolerance to high salinity stress in plants is a coordinated action of multiple stress-responsive genes. Plants that grow under different soil conditions are usually inhabited by microbes which are beneficial for the enhancement of their salinity tolerance mechanisms. Microbes, either independently or by interacting with plants, synthesize some organic osmolytes and other substances which offer an adaptive strategy to salinity stress. The partnership of plants with nitrogen-fixing bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can serve as a second possible and sustainable strategy to increase crop yields in saline soil. A comprehensive understanding on how plants respond to salinity stress at different levels and an integrated approach of combining molecular tools with physiological and biochemical techniques are inevitable for the development of salt-tolerant varieties of plants in salt affected areas.

Rice straw, a by-product of the rice production is mainly used as a source of feed for ruminant livestock is the major forage in rice-producing areas in India. The disposal of the rice straw is a serious problem in areas where it is the major agricultural product. It is rich in polysaccharides and has a high lignin and silica content, limiting voluntary intake and reducing degradability by rumen microbes. By rice straw treatment, its quality and digestibility can be improved and enhanced the protein content. Several methods have been used to improve the utilization of rice straw by ruminants or supplemented by other ingredients to increase digestibility and nutrient value before it can be considered a suitable animal feed. In recent years, biological treatments have been investigated for improvement in nutritional value of rice straw. The use of ligninolytic fungi and their extracellular ligninolytic enzymes for treatment of rice straw results in degrading cellulose and hemicelluloses contents which improve its nutritional value. The use of fungi and enzyme treatments is expected to be a practical, cost-effective and environmental-friendly approach for enhancing the nutritive value and digestibility of rice straw. Therefore, the treated rice straw has a good potential as feed for ruminants.

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) belonging to family Poaceae is a tropical perennial grass used widely for sugar production. Research scientists have discovered sugarcane as an alternative biofuel source to conventional petroleum fuels that lead to global warming. The sugars extracted from sugarcane can be easily fermented to produce ethanol. In addition, the bagasse (biomass remaining after the juice is extracted from the stalks) can be further used by sugar mills to generate steam and electricity. The current total global production of renewable fuels is 50 billion liters a year, and sugarcane alone accounts for about 40%, thus becoming a major contributor for biofuel production. The tremendous success of sugarcane industry to produce ethanol as biofuel in Brazil has also enhanced the interest in other parts of the world. With conventional technologies, sugarcane can yield several products from fiber to chemicals. But with the help of genetic recombination, sugarcane would roll to produce the novel biofuels more efficiently. Research scientists have identified the key enzymes that can hasten the process of ethanol production more powerfully. There is tremendous potential of sugarcane as a biofactory which can uplift both socioeconomic status of a country and sustainability of natural resources. Now, it’s time to augment weightage to produce biofuels in developing countries like India which would initiate rural development, create more job opportunities, and also save foreign exchange to great extent.

Paddy soil, compost, kitchen waste and landfill waste were used to develop the microbial inoculum for the enhancement of biogas production from cattle dung. Fourteen digesters were set up and digestion was carried out in batch type manner for eight weeks. The samples were analyzed for dehydrogenase activity and cellulase activity. Biogas production was measured for a period of eight weeks. The maximum biogas production (32.1 litres) was observed at the end of 4th week on supplementation of cattle dung with kitchen waste @ 5%, compost @ 5%, landfill waste @ 5% and paddy soil @ 5% on dry weight basis in batch anaerobic digestion. The dehydrogenase activity (1772.0 μg TPF/g sample/24 h) and cellulase activity (178.7 μg glucose/g sample/24 h) was observed at 4th week in digester 14.

The sella-rice mill effluent is a major environmental pollutant requiring proper treatment before disposal. The present study has been conducted to isolate and characterize micro-organisms capable of growing on sella-rice effluent and to optimize conditions for its rapid bioremediation. Using three different types of media (LB, YEPDA and PDA), a total of 139 isolates were isolated from effluent samples collected from three different locations. Out of these, 45 isolates were found to utilize starch on starch medium, eight isolates showing high efficiency. For the optimization of conditions for maximum utilization of starch by selected isolates, parameters such as effect of addition of carbon and nitrogen sources, effect of growth factors, temperature and pH were studied. Maximum growth (absorbance of 2.10) and starch-utilization (varying in the range of 2.33 to 3.62) was observed on starch medium supplemented with peptone and yeast extract at 30 degrees C with a pH of 6.0. These bacterial isolates also reduced the amount of starch (80.10%), BOD (64.24%) and COD (75.0%) of sella-rice mill effluent after 15 days of incubation. On the basis of morphological and biochemical characteristics, the selected isolates were found to belong to the genera Lactobacillus and Micrococcus.