A pot experiment was conducted during kharif 2015 at S.K.N. College of Agriculture, Jobner (Rajasthan) to study the “Phosphorus Management in Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Wilczek] Grown on Saline Soils” to evaluate the effect of different soil salinity levels, phosphorus and biofertilizer on soil properties (pH and ECe), dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase enzyme activity, total and available P, yield attributes and yield, nutrient concentration and salinity tolerance in cowpea on loamy sand soil. The experiment comprising of 27 treatment combination replicated three times, was laid out in completely randomized block design with three levels of salinity(1, 4 and 6 dSm), three sources of phosphorus(SSP, DAP and PROM) and three biofertilizer(control, PSB and PSB+VAM). Result revealed that under 6 dSm -1 level of salinity, ECe was increased significantly, while pH of soil decreased significantly. The dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase enzyme activity, total and available P, total and effective nodule per plant, nodule index, plant height, pods per plant, seeds per pod, grain and straw yield of crop, nutrient concentration viz., P, K, Ca, and Mg in grain and straw, Ca/Mg ratio in grain and straw decreased significantly with all level of soil salinity and maximum reduction was recorded with the application of 6 dSm level of salinity, while, N, Na/Ca, Na+K/Ca and Na/K ratio in grain and straw increased significantly. The application of PROM significantly increased the dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase enzyme activity, total and available P, total and effective nodule per plant, nodule index, plant height, pods per plant, seeds per pod, grain and straw yield of crop, root biomass, nutrient concentration viz.,N, P, K, Ca, and Mg in grain and straw, P content in root biomass, Ca/Mg ratio in grain and straw increased significantly, while, Na, Na/Ca, Na+K/Ca and Na/K ratio in grain and straw decreased significantly. Inoculation with PSB+VAM significantly increased the dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase enzyme activity, total and available P, total and effective nodule per plant, nodule index, plant height, pods per plant, seeds per pod, grain and straw yield of crop, root biomass, nutrient concentration viz.,N, P, K, Ca, and Mg in grain and straw,P content in root biomass, Ca/Mg ratio in grain and straw increased significantly, while, Na, Na/Ca, Na+K/Ca and Na/K ratio in grain and straw decreased significantly. * A Post Graduate Student, Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry S.K.N. College of Agriculture, Jobner (Jaipur-Rajasthan) 303329. ** Professor , Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, S.K.N. College of Agriculture, (Shri Karan Narendra Agricultural University, Jobner), campusJobner (JaipurRajasthan). yo.kh; e`nkvksa ij mxk;s x;s pioyk 1⁄4foXuk vUX;wdqykVk ,y-1⁄2 esa QkWLQksjl dk izca/ku lq’khyk ,spjk * MkW-ch,y;kno ** 1⁄4’kks /kdrkZ1⁄2 1⁄4eq[; lykgdkj1⁄2

Phosphorus Management in Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Wilczek] Grown on Saline Soils(SKNAU)

A liquid consortial formulation with three compatible biocontrol agents viz., Trichoderma harzianum, Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae was prepared with already standardized additives (Assam Agricultural University (AAU), Jorhat, Assam). Pot and field experiments conducted to test the efficacy of six different IPDM (Integrated Pests and Disease Management) modules with the prepared consortia showed that module-6 (seed treatment + seed bed treatment in nursery + soil application in main field + seedling dip treatment with consortia of biofertilizer, Rhizobium sp., Azotobacter sp. strain 52, Azospirillum sp. strain 71 and Bacillus sp. strain 5 W + spraying of consortia) was the best for the management of three important diseases of brinjal viz., Phomopsis leaf blight and fruit rot, Alternaria leaf spot, and Fusarium wilt. Field experiment repeated in the second year ustilizing six different modules revealed the module 6 as best in reduction of disease incidence and increasing the growth parameters and yield of the crop. Result of pooled analysis of field experiments showed a yield of 570.97q/ha with B:C ratio 3.99. The module was also found effective in improving the nutrient status with significant increase in P and K status of soil as well as microbial biomass carbon in both the years of experimentation (2014–2015 and 2015–2016). The module can be used by the farmers for organic cultivation of brinjal after further confirmation in multi locations of diverse agroecological condition of Assam.

Consortia of entomo-pathogenic fungi and bio-control agents improve the agro-ecological conditions for brinjal cultivation of Assam

Climate change, land degradation, and desertification lead to the loss of carbon present in the soil and plants. The carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration in the atmosphere has reached 412 ppm. This is a rise of 47% since the start of the industrial period, when the concentration was close to 280 ppm. Therefore, the sequestration of carbon from the atmosphere to earth is the need of the hour. Many scientists have suggested agroforestry as a potent instrument for climate change mitigation as well as to fetch lucrative benefits. The Indian government is also promulgating tree-based systems for increasing tree cover up to 33% of the total geographical area to mitigate climate change. Therefore, the expansion of the commercial agroforestry system of fast-growing tree species producing higher biomass could be a sustainable and ecologically benign technique to sequester carbon, increase green cover, and improve the financial status of farmers. This review highlights the commercial agroforestry systems, biomass and carbon sequestration potential, and case studies of poplar and eucalyptus. The species such as poplar (Populus deltoides), nilgiri (Eucalyptus spp.), subabul (Leucaena leucocephala), tree of heaven (Ailanthus excelsa), willow (Salix spp.), malabar neem (Melia dubia), cadamba (Neolamarckia cadamba), and white teak (Gmelina arborea) are the suitable tree species for carbon sequestration under agroforestry. Among these species, poplar and eucalyptus are major agroforestry tree species that have been adopted by millions of farmers in India since the 1990s. Indo-Gangetic plains are considered the birthplace of commercial or industrial agroforestry, as poplar and eucalyptus are widely planted. This review reports that poplar and eucalyptus have the potential to sequester carbon stock of 212.7 Mg C ha−1 and 237.2 Mg C ha−1, respectively. Further, the net carbon sequestration rate in poplar and eucalyptus was 10.3 and 12.7 Mg C ha−1 yr−1, respectively. In conclusion, the commercial agroforestry system was very successful in the Indo-Gangetic regions of the country but needs further expansion with suitable compatible crops in different parts of the country.

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Carbon Sequestration Potential of Commercial Agroforestry Systems in Indo-Gangetic Plains of India: Poplar and Eucalyptus-Based Agroforestry Systems

A field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2012 on loamy sand soil to study the effe ct of vermicompost and biofertilizers on yield and soil nutrient status after harvest of cowpea. Results indicated that app lication of 6.0 t/ha significantly increased straw yield, biological yield , grain yield, organic carbon, available nitrogen, ava ilable phosphorus, available potassium and which was at par with treatment of vermicompost @ of 4.0 t/ha than t he other levels of vermicompost. However, application of vermicompost @ 6/ha significantly increased in case of s eed yield over control. Results further indicated that seed inoc ulation with the Rhizobium and PSB significantly increased in seed, straw and biological yield, organic carbon, availabl e nitrogen, available phosphorus and available potass ium over control. Keywords: Cowpea, PSB, Rhizobium,

Effect of vermicompost and biofertilizers on yield and soil nutrient status after harvest of cowpea ( vigna unguiculata (l.) w.)

Land degradation is one of the most important factors responsible for the alarming situation of food security, human health, and socioeconomic development in the country. Currently, 120.7 M ha of land in the country is affected by land degradation, out of which 85.7 M ha of land is affected by soil erosion caused by water and wind. Moreover, physical, chemical, and biological degradation are the major forms of land degradation in the country. Deforestation or tree cover loss (2.07 M ha) from 2001 to 2021, intensive rainfall (>7.5 mm ha−1), uncontrolled grazing (5.65 M ha), indiscriminate use of fertilizers (32 MT year−1), and shifting cultivation (7.6 M ha) are other major factors that further aggravate the process of land degradation. In order to alleviate the problem of land degradation, numerous agroforestry technologies have been developed after years of research in different agroclimatic zones of the country. The major agroforestry systems observed in the country are agri-horticulture, silvipasture, and agri-silviculture. This review indicates the potential of agroforestry in enhancing carbon sequestration (1.80 Mg C ha−1 year−1 in the Western Himalayan region to 3.50 Mg C ha−1 year−1 in the island regions) and reduced soil loss and runoff by 94% and 78%, respectively, in Northeast India. This can be concluded that the adoption of the agroforestry system is imperative for the rehabilitation of degraded lands and also found to have enough potential to address the issues of food, environmental, and livelihood security. This review’s findings will benefit researchers, land managers, and decision-makers in understanding the role of agroforestry in combating land degradation to enhance ecosystem service in India and planning suitable policies for eradicating the problem effectively.

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Degraded land rehabilitation through agroforestry in India: Achievements, current understanding, and future prospectives

The productivity of arid region is much lower and resource degradation is much faster comparatively other ecosystem due to aberrant climatic conditions and anthropogenic activities. Lower production in arid region is due to lower nutrient and water holding capacity of soil, erratic rainfall pattern and inappropriate crop management practices. Therefore, present study was conducted with six planting techniques and four nutrient management practices in split plot design and replicated thrice, to find outsuitable planting techniques and nutrient management practices and their influence on growth, productivity of pearl millet in arid western Rajasthan.Results of the study showed that pit planting technique treatment PT6 noted taller plant over rest of the treatments during 2018 and 2019. Among various planting techniques, pit technique realized significantly higher relative growth rate(RGR) as compared ridge planting (PT2 and PT3) and direct seed sowing (PT1) also. However, pit planting technique PT4 recorded highest RGR of 1.87 & 1.77 g g-1 day-1during 20 days after sowing/transplanting (DAS/DAT) to 40 DAS/DAT and 2.26 & 2.23 g g-1 day-1during 40 DAS/DAT to at harvest during 2018 and 2019, respectively, which registered significantly edge over rest all treatments of sowing/transplanting. Though ridge planting techniques PT2 and PT3, computed significantly highest crop growth rate (CGR) as compared to rest all planting treatments yet formerly both treatment remained statistically at par with each other.  Pearl millet planted by pit planting technique PT6 recorded highest grain yield during both the years. Moreover, growth parameters and grain yield also increased with increasing dose of nutrients fromnutrient management practice NMP1 to nutrient management practiceNMP3 over control (NMP0). Highest plant height, crop growth rate (g m-1 day-1) and relative growth rate (g g-1 day-1) at different intervals and grain yieldwere recorded maximum in nutrient management practice NMP3, while minimum values of all above parameters were observed in no fertilization control (NMP0) treatment during individual years of 2018 and 2019.

Performance of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) as Influenced by Different Planting Techniques and Nutrient Management Practices in Arid Western Rajasthan

S. K. Kumawat

Papers

Effect of vermicompost and biofertilizers on yield and soil nutrient status after harvest of cowpea ( vigna unguiculata (l.) w.)

Degraded land rehabilitation through agroforestry in India: Achievements, current understanding, and future prospectives

Performance of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) as Influenced by Different Planting Techniques and Nutrient Management Practices in Arid Western Rajasthan