Sachin Kumari

Bio: Sachin Kumari is an academic researcher from Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Antioxidant & Traditional medicine. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 5 publications receiving 5 citations.

Sewage Sludge Impacts on Yields, Nutrients and Heavy Metals Contents in Pearl Millet–Wheat System Grown Under Saline Environment

Abstract: Salinity prompts heavy metals accumulation and adversely affects nutrient contents in soil and plants, thereby reducing crop yields. The assessment of domestic sewage sludge (SS) under saline conditions to boost crop productivity has become crucial. A field trial was conducted for two consecutive years (2017–2019) with three irrigation levels [canal water (0.35 dS m−1), I1; 8 dS m−1, I2; and 10 dS m−1 saline water, I3]; and five fertilization levels [control, F1; SS (5 t ha−1), F2; SS (5 t ha−1) + 50% RDF, F3; SS (5 t ha−1) + 75% RDF, F4; and RDF, F5]. The results revealed that treatment I3 (10 dS m−1) reduced the grain yield of pearl millet and wheat by an average of 31.2 and 32.6%, respectively, compared to I1 (0.35 dS m−1). However, among fertilizer treatments, F5 obtained significant highest grain and straw yields statistically at par with F4 treatment. Also, in the context of nutrients content in crops, a similar trend has been reported. In the addition, with the usage of saline irrigation (EC 8 and 10 dS m−1) and SS (5 t ha−1), the availability of heavy metals in crops and soil had increased (p = 0.05). The soluble ions in soil increased with increasing salinity levels of irrigation water. The extractability series of heavy metals were: Pb > Co > Ni > Cr > Cd. The addition of SS, however, recorded a higher concentration of DTPA-extractable metals in soil over control. The heavy metals content did not exceed toxicity levels in soil and plants. Hence, the incorporation of SS (5 t ha−1) resulted in saving 25% mineral fertilizers and, also combined use of SS with mineral fertilizers proved to be economically beneficial for crop production.

Persistence of Bifenthrin in Soil under the Cover of Okra Crop

Abstract: Persistence of bifenthrin in a sandy loam soil under okra crop is reported. Commercial formulation of bifenthrin (Talstar 10 EC) @ 25 and 50 g a.i. ha−1 was applied in field. Soil samples drawn on 0 (1 h), 3, 7, 15, 30, 60 and 90 days of treatments were analyzed by GC-ECD equipped with capillary column. The residues at both the doses dissipated by almost 90% in 15 days with half-life values of 2.40 and 2.95 days in soil at the two doses respectively and followed the first order kinetics. The values of correlation coefficient for degradation kinetics in soil were -0.9832 to -0.9773 for the two doses, respectively.

Phytoextraction of Chromium from contaminated soil by Zea mays as influenced by chelating agents

Abstract: A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of amendments on phytoextraction of Cr by Zea mays using CDTA, Citric acid, DTPA, NTA (at 10 mmol kg −1 soil) and FYM (3%) Dry matter yield of roots and shoots of Zea mays increased due to application of FYM and CDTA whereas reverse trend was observed in NTA, Citric acid and DTPA treated soils Addition of sewage sludge (3% on dry weight basis) was found beneficial in improving the plant growth Chelating agents enhanced the Cr uptake by both roots and shoots Significantly higher values of Cr uptake by roots and shoots were observed from amended as compared to sewage sludge unamended soil Application of CDTA was found more effective in enhancing the Cr uptake by roots and shoots of Zea mays than any other chelating agents at both the growth stages Hence, marginally Cr contaminated soil may be remediated by adding chelating agents

Effect of chelating agents on phytoextraction of Ni from contaminated soil by Zea mays.

Abstract: The effects of application of CDTA, (CA), DTPA, NTA and FYM on the growth of Zea mays and its Ni uptake and accumulation were investigated using the pot-culture experiments. Application of chelating agents decreased the dry matter yield of roots of Zea mays while, higher values of dry matter yield (11.35 g pot-1) was observedin case of FYM sewage sludge amended soil at 80 days after sowing. FYM addition was found beneficial as compared to control (Ni90). Dry matter yield of shoots of Zea mays increased over control due to application of CDTA and FYM. The highest value of dry matter yield of shoot (86.05 g pot-1) was observed in case of CDTA withsewage sludge amended soil at 80 days after sowing. Whereas reverse trend was observed in NTA, CA and DTPA treated soils. Chelating agents enhanced the Ni uptake by both roots and shoots, higher values of Ni uptake by roots (3415.44 I¼g pot-1 ) and shoots (10104.98 I¼g pot-1 ) Was observed in NTA and CDTA treated soil after 80 days of sowing in amended as compared to sewage sludge unamended soil. Application of CDTA followed by NTA was found more effective in enhancing the Ni uptake by Zea mays roots and shoots than any other chelating agents at both the growth stages. The chelating agents are found useful in enhancing phytoextractability of Ni by Zea mays. Hence, marginally Ni contaminated soil may be remediated by adding chelating agents.

Study of Hetrosis in Sunflower (Helianthus Annuus L.)

Abstract: The present investigation entitled “Heterosis studies in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) was undertaken to estimate the heterosis for seed yield and its components in sunflower. The 15 CMS lines and 5 restorer lines were crossed in line x tester model to produce 76 hybrids. The crosses were made at research area of Oilseed Section, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, CCS HAU, Hisar during the spring season of 2014. Hybrids and parents were evaluated under four different environments i.e. Summer 2014, last week of August (E1) and First week of Sept. (E2) and during spring 2015, i.e. first week of February (E3) and last week of February (E4). Data on five randomly selected plants from each genotype in each replication were recorded on different quantitative characters viz. plant height (cm), head diameter (cm), stem diameter (cm) days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, hundred seed weight (g), seed yield per plant (g), oil content (%), hull content (%), percent seed filling, germination (%), electrical conductivity (µScm1 g-1), viability (%), vigour index I, vigour index II, palmitic acid (%), stearic acid (%), oleic acid (%) and linoleic acid (%) in all the test environments. Hybrids CMS 207 A x HRHA 5-3, CMS 852 A x RHA 271, CMS 207 A x RHA 297, CMS 234 A x 6D-1 and CMS 207 A x 6D-1 were found better and superior for heterosis , seed yield and its contributing trait and also for oil content. The hybrids with good heterotic value could be directly used for heterosis breeding because of their dominant nature. The use of genotypes in hybridization from these results is likely to produce more heterotic combination in future.

Effects of Salinity on the Macro- and Micronutrient Contents of a Halophytic Plant Species (Portulaca oleracea L.)

Abstract: The main purpose of the two consecutive experimental studies presented here was to compare the effect of salinity on nutrients in leaves of the halophytic plant species Portulaca oleracea L. and in soil. The first experiment was conducted to study the effect of salinity on plant growth, biomass accumulation, yield, root layer development, salt accumulation, and the dynamics of changes in mineral substances in plants and soil. In the second experiment, P. oleracea seeds were sown directly into salinized soil (treated immediately before plant growth) to determine the nutrient levels in leaves and soil. Three salinity treatments (saline water solution with NaCl: T1, 5 dS m−1; T2, 9.8 dS m−1; and T3, 20 dS m−1) and a control treatment (T0, 1 dS m−1) were used in the first experiment. The soil in the second experiment was used in a previous study (performed immediately before P. oleracea growth) (salinized soil: T1, 7.2 dS m−1; T2, 8.8 dS m−1; T3, 15.6 dS m−1; T0, 1.9 dS m−1). The plants were irrigated with tap water at amounts in the range of 0.25–0.50 L/pot. Analysis of the experimental results showed that P. oleracea is resistant to salinity, is able to remove ions (400–500 kg ha−1 NaCl), and can be grown in saline soil. The results indicated that P. oleracea is able to grow in high-salinity soil. This finding was confirmed by the dry matter obtained under high-salinity conditions. Salinity stress affected nutrient uptake in leaves and soil.

Bifenthrin in the tropical sugarcane ecosystem: persistence and environmental risk assessment.

Abstract: Termites are one of the major pests of sugarcane. Bifenthrin has label claim for use against sugarcane termites and is applied at the time of planting over the cane setts in the furrows. A thorough knowledge on the dissipation kinetics of bifenthrin in the soil and cane setts provides an insight into its dynamic behavior in the soil–plant–environment continuum, and hence, was studied in detail. The recoveries of the method adopted to determine the residues of bifenthrin in the soil, sugarcane setts, stem, and leaf were in the range of 92.78–98.19% at three levels of fortification ranged between 0.01 and 0.1 μg/g of matrix. At the recommended dose (100 g a.i./ha), bifenthrin was found to persist in the soil and cane setts up to 60 and 75 days after treatment (DAT) with the half-lives of 16.4 and 25.0 days, respectively. The dissipation kinetics of bifenthrin followed the biphasic model. At double the recommended dose, the residues persisted up to 75 DAT and reached below the detectable limit ( 1.0) due to the presence of bifenthrin residues in the soil of tropical sugarcane ecosystem.

Phytoextraction of Chromium from contaminated soil by Zea mays as influenced by chelating agents

Abstract: A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of amendments on phytoextraction of Cr by Zea mays using CDTA, Citric acid, DTPA, NTA (at 10 mmol kg −1 soil) and FYM (3%) Dry matter yield of roots and shoots of Zea mays increased due to application of FYM and CDTA whereas reverse trend was observed in NTA, Citric acid and DTPA treated soils Addition of sewage sludge (3% on dry weight basis) was found beneficial in improving the plant growth Chelating agents enhanced the Cr uptake by both roots and shoots Significantly higher values of Cr uptake by roots and shoots were observed from amended as compared to sewage sludge unamended soil Application of CDTA was found more effective in enhancing the Cr uptake by roots and shoots of Zea mays than any other chelating agents at both the growth stages Hence, marginally Cr contaminated soil may be remediated by adding chelating agents

Assessing heavy metal accumulation in plants and soil with sewage sludge application under rice–wheat system in an Indo-Gangetic Inceptisol

Abstract: Sewage sludge (SS) in the soil acts as a slow-release organic fertilizer, and its nutrient supplying capability and heavy metal release occur for a prolonged period depending upon the applied doses. Field experiment not only evaluated the direct impact of SS application on rice (Oryza sativa L.) but also tracked the accumulation of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and nickel (Ni) content in succeeding wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop and next-season rice and wheat crop. The field experiment was conducted with different levels of SS (15, 30, and 45 t ha−1) alone and in combination with 100% and 50% recommended doses of fertilizers (RDF). The findings indicated that the addition of SS (45 t ha−1) alone and in combination with inorganic fertilizers increased heavy metal accumulation in grain and straw of rice–wheat system and also led to enhanced DTPA-extractable metal content in post-harvest soil. Heavy metal concentrations in crops (except Cr content in straw) and soil stay below the phytotoxic limits in all treatments. However, total Cd in the soil exceeds the permissible limit with the sole application of SS beyond 30 t ha−1. This study admitted that one-time application of SS at the lower dose and reaping its benefits in subsequent crops can be an effective strategy of SS utilization in rice–wheat system.